The Backlash Against Reddit’s API Charges- Thousands of Subreddits Go Dark
In a powerful protest against Reddit new pricing policy, approximately 3,500 subreddits have chosen to “go dark” or become private for 48 hours starting Monday. This massive strike is a response to charges imposed by Reddit on its application programming interface (API). Which enables users to share Reddit content with third-party apps. The protest gained traction following a post by Reddit user u/Toptomcat on June 2 who expressed concerns about the policy change.
According to the user, the recent policy change poses a threat to many beloved third-party mobile apps. Rendering essential quality-of-life features inaccessible to users. To voice their discontent, numerous subreddits will be participating in the protest on June 12th. While some subreddits plan to return after 48 hours, others may vanish permanently unless the issue adequately addresses. The user explained that the limitations imposed by the official app’s tools make it challenging for moderators to continue their dedicated work, which they perform out of genuine love for Reddit.
Protest Attention
The protest gained significant attention when one of Reddit’s largest subreddits, r/funny, with over 40 million followers, announced its participation. On Monday morning, visitors were greeted with a notice stating that the subreddit had shut down as part of the coordinated protest against Reddit’s exorbitant new API pricing. This bold move mirrored by other prominent subreddits, including r/gaming and r/music, both boasting over 30 million followers each. The list of participating subreddits encompassed a wide range, from fandom-specific communities. The communities like Taylor Swift, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Dungeons and Dragons, to support groups and stock trading advice subreddits.
On June 9th, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman held an “ask me anything” (AMA) session. Where he reaffirmed the company’s decision to implement the charges. Huffman stated that Reddit needed to become a self-sustaining business and could no longer subsidize commercial entities requiring extensive data use. However, his response faced severe backlash from disgruntled users during the AMA. Additionally, third-party app developers voiced concerns that Reddit’s charges would render their applications economically unviable. One such app developer, Christian Selig. The founder of Apollo, announced on June 8th through Twitter and Reddit that his app would be shutting down by the end of the month due to Reddit’s pricing changes.
This widespread protest signifies the deep-seated frustration among Reddit users and third-party app developers. As the blackout continues, the impact on Reddit’s community and the potential consequences for the platform’s future remain uncertain. Will Reddit listen to the concerns of its users and find a way to address the issues raised by the protest? Only time will tell how this controversy will shape the relationship between Reddit. Its user base, and the wider developer community.
