Android users attempting to enjoy video content on Reddit are currently facing an unusual and frustrating bug that distorts videos horizontally. This issue appears to have emerged following a recent app update, and users are voicing their concerns across various subreddits.
Details of the Bug
The glitch is specifically affecting Reddit app version 2025.41.0, leading to significant disruptions in video aspect ratios. Instead of displaying as intended, videos are stretched wide, resulting in distorted images that make viewing nearly impossible. One user on r/bugs shared a screenshot that vividly illustrates the extent of the problem, showcasing how videos become squashed and barely recognizable.
Another user contributed a screen recording, further highlighting the issue:
[embedded content]
Interestingly, while the “Watch” feed displays videos correctly, the distortion occurs as soon as users select a video from either the main feed or within a subreddit. Some users have noted that their uploads appear perfect during the preview stage but become distorted immediately after posting, suggesting a flaw in Reddit’s video processing or display mechanisms.
Widespread Impact
Reports of this issue have surfaced across multiple subreddits, including r/help, r/NoStupidQuestions, r/reddithelp, and r/NoRules, as users sought to determine whether they were alone in experiencing this anomaly. It has become evident that the problem is widespread among Android devices, affecting a range of models from Pixel phones running Android 16 to Realme devices on Android 12, and everything in between. One user humorously remarked that Reddit is “bringing back wide Putin memes,” alluding to the infamous stretched video meme format.
On the desktop front, users are reporting mixed experiences, with some encountering vertical stretching instead of horizontal, while mobile users continue to grapple with the horizontal distortion.
As of now, Reddit has not officially acknowledged the bug. However, given the volume of reports and the significant impact on user experience, it is anticipated that a fix will be implemented soon. In the meantime, Android users may want to limit their browsing to text posts or await an update from Reddit that addresses this pressing issue.
Featured image credit: u/flogsmen / Reddit
