Thousands of subreddits, totaling over 2.8 billion users, have gone dark or switched to read-only mode on Reddit to protest the platform’s new API pricing. The blackout, which began on Monday and will last for 48 hours, is a coordinated effort by moderators and users to express their dissatisfaction with the high fees that will shut down many third-party apps, including popular ones like Apollo and Reddit is Fun.
During the blackout, participating subreddits will be private, preventing non-subscribers from accessing existing content and subscribers from posting or commenting on new content. Some subreddits have opted for read-only mode. In addition to the blackout, participants are encouraged to leave negative reviews for the official Reddit app and explore non-Reddit platforms to reduce traffic to the site.
The protest is being organized by moderators in r/ModCoord, and as of Monday afternoon, over 28,600 moderators and 8,300 subreddits have pledged to participate. Some subreddits have even threatened permanent shutdown unless Reddit addresses the concerns raised by its users.
The new API pricing, which will be implemented on July 1, will charge third-party apps based on data usage. This change is expected to be financially unsustainable for many indie developers running popular apps. Apollo, for example, stated that the new pricing structure would cost them $20 million per year, making it economically unfeasible to continue operating.
In response, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman addressed the changes in an AMA post, expressing the company’s commitment to providing an accessible and open platform for communities. However, Reddit argues that the pricing changes are necessary to cover hosting costs and support high-usage third-party apps.
While some moderation tools and accessibility apps will continue to have free access to the Reddit API, the changes have raised concerns about the potential negative impact on content moderation and the proliferation of spam and harmful behaviors within subreddits.
The blackout and protest highlight the significant impact of API pricing changes on the developer community and the user experience. As the blackout continues, users and developers hope that Reddit will address their concerns and work towards a more sustainable and inclusive approach to API pricing.
