Reddit Introduces The Button, Continues Tradition of Staging Weird April Fools' Day Social Experiments

• 01

  Here's how you brand yourself with The Mark of the Button

  
  via Reddit

  
  

  Once visiting r/thebutton you are presented with the titular Button and a countdown clock measuring the nonexistent patience of reddit users.

  
  

  As a regular subreddit, it also includes a list of voted topics, which is where things take the usual turn.

• 02

  It began a site-wide argument about everyone pressing or not pressing The Button

  
  via Reddit

  
  

  Because, you see, if you press The Button, you aren't simply left with The Shame. You are given a tiny bit of flair that will here on out, dictate all human relationships.

• 03

  Those who press The Button receive a purple dot next to their username

  
  via Reddit
• 04

  Those who don't are given a calming grey one

  
  via Reddit
• 05

  This led to the quick rise of a temperance move

  
  via Reddit

  
  

  

• 06

  The temperance movement started its own subreddit: r/NoTap

  
  via Reddit

  
  

  At the official movement site non button-pushers rally around each other for support.

  
  

  

  
  

  

• 07

  One stalwart Redditor has graphed The Button data every ten minutes

  
  via Reddit

  
  

  Here's a few more examples:

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  All the while /u/bealan has still NOT pressed The Button.

• 08

  No one knows what will happen should the timer reach zero. Here is the closest recorded occurance:

  
  via Reddit

  
  

  
  

  Maybe just hold your loved ones tight and pray The Button keeps getting pushed.

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