WASHINGTON –
This week, numerous Reddit discussion forums have decided to temporarily shut down in order to express their opposition towards a recent policy that involves requiring certain third-party applications to pay in order to access data on the site. This has raised concerns regarding content moderation and the ability to access information.
“Various subreddits on the homepage of the platform expressed concerns about Reddit’s detrimental impact on third-party applications, as well as its own future demise.”
Recently, Reddit made an announcement about broader changes to its API, which includes the implementation of new fees.
The people who planned the blackout, starting on Monday, claim that Reddit’s modifications are a danger to important methods of customizing the platform throughout history. These methods heavily rely on the efforts of volunteer moderators. These moderators often utilize external tools to maintain their forums spam-free and devoid of hateful content, as well as enhance accessibility.
According to a boycott tracker, approximately 9,000 subreddits became inaccessible this week, and more than 4,000 were still inaccessible on Friday. This includes popular communities with millions of subscribers such as r/music and r/videos. Some subreddits went back to being public after 48 hours, but others have decided to remain private indefinitely until Reddit addresses their requests.
However, Reddit, which is owned by Advance Publications, a company based in New York, is not altering its plans. According to CEO Steve Huffman, providing support for third-party developers who have high usage of its data is financially burdensome. Additionally, the company clarifies that the new charges will solely impact eligible applications that require extensive usage limitations, and the majority of API users will not be required to pay for access.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is an API and how is Reddit altering the way third-party apps can access it?
To put it simply, an API enables computer programs to interact with each other. Previously, external parties have utilized Reddit’s API, which is freely accessible, to obtain data and create applications that can operate with the platform.
Earlier this year, Reddit made an announcement about modifying its API access policies. As of July 1, Reddit intends to implement charges for third-party applications that exceed specified usage limits.
Huffman explained to The Associated Press that operating a platform like reddit comes with significant costs, particularly due to the support provided to popular third-party applications, which amounts to millions of dollars. He expressed his desire for reddit to become financially independent and self-sustaining, as it would ensure the company’s stability and longevity. This is the goal they are currently striving towards.
According to the company, not all third-party applications will have a cost attached to them. The pricing policy will depend on how much the app is used, and certain noncommercial apps that prioritize accessibility will still have free access. Reddit also clarified that moderator tools and bots will still be able to access the API for free.
What is the reason for subreddits to protest this alteration?
The recent modifications to Reddit’s API have sparked anger among users, who are worried about losing valuable third-party tools they’ve been using for a long time. Well-known third-party apps such as Apollo and Reddit Is Fun have already declared their intention to cease operations by the end of the month, citing financial constraints imposed by the API alterations. Christian Selig, the developer of Apollo, has estimated that the expenses resulting from these changes would reach approximately US$20 million annually.
According to experts, the volunteer moderators on Reddit who depend on these apps, as well as similar ones, will probably be heavily affected.
Sarah Gilbert, a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University and research manager at Citizens and Technology Lab, stated that although Reddit has assured that changes to the API will not impact moderation tools, many moderators depend on third-party applications and access to data archives to efficiently perform their tasks. She also highlighted the potential risks of moderator burnout and the crucial need to retain moderators.
Gilbert stated that having API access assists moderators in ensuring the safety of communities and enables them to promptly address issues like spam, bigotry, and harassment. Additionally, she emphasized the significance of third-party apps for individuals using screen readers since the official Reddit app lacks accessibility features for visually impaired users.
WHEN WILL THE REDDIT BLACKOUT END?
Several subreddits that were part of the blackout this week have resumed their activities on Reddit within 48 hours, while there are still others who believe their protest is ongoing.
Many subreddits have indicated their intention to remain inaccessible until Reddit addresses their requests, which involve reducing API fees for heavy usage by third-party developers in order to ensure the survival of popular apps.
However, Huffman stated that he remains steadfast in his position. He additionally mentioned that the subreddits presently partaking in the blackout will not remain offline indefinitely, even if this requires finding new moderators.
Organizers of the protest have been further angered by the company’s reaction to the blackout.
“We urge reddit to temporarily halt these modifications and instead consider an alternative approach that achieves a harmonious balance that benefits the majority of reddit users,” stated a post on the subreddit dedicated to coordinating moderators on Thursday evening.
In addition to Reddit, Twitter also terminated free access to its API earlier this year, which caused a similar strong reaction.
