[quickthrower2]

With the classic early 2000s model of PHPBB at least you only trust each “sub” individually and they don’t have enough power or resources to fuck you up. That is why say, random example: https://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php has not introduced all the reddit shit despite being just as old. If it were a sub or on your alternative it would be subject to all that.

What would be good is a modern enough Reddit clone, open source, that you can selfhost once per subreddit and one or more places that will host that (like you can get wordpress hosting from 1000 places). Maybe have some free ones that run ads but still run the same basic software and do it free.

What you will have is some localised issues but no one has the power to change everything and pull the rug on millions.