Over 7,000 subreddits go dark to protest Reddit API changes

Reddit recently announced changes to its application programming interface (API) program, including new fees for third parties accessing the company’s tools and data. This will effectively block some popular third-party apps that people use to browse Reddit.

In response, more than 7,200 Reddit communities, named subreddits, have gone private. The move, organized by Reddit moderators after communities voted in support, makes the subreddit inaccessible to anyone, including its members.

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Reddit is a social media site that looks more like a forum, where members follow communities focused on particular interests rather than individuals. These subreddits can have millions of members and each of them will see the community’s posts on their feed whenever they log into Reddit – except today and tomorrow.

The blackout is the result of an outcry over Reddit’s decision to charge millions of dollars for use of its API and access to its data starting July 1. Due to these new charges, Apollo, unable to afford the cost, will shut down the sync and pager.

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Christian Selig, developer of Apollo Apps, said in a reddit post that the company would likely charge Apollo $20 million a year for API access. “I hope it goes without saying that I don’t have that kind of money or even know how to charge it to a credit card,” he said. Apollo is scheduled to close on June 30.

Although the Reddit site was launched in 2005, the first official Reddit mobile apps for iOS and Android were launched in 2016. Before the official app was launched, mobile users browsed Reddit through web browsers or third-party apps. Since then, the official Reddit apps have added advertising, while many of the most popular third-party apps have not, so many users have preferred using them over the years.

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This is where the widespread outrage and subsequent protests from millions of Reddit users stemmed from.

in one ‘Ask-Me-Anything’ (AMA) Sessions Last week, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said of Selig, “His behavior and communication with us[has]been all over the place — telling us one thing while outwardly saying something completely different; a private phone call.” Recording and leaking the calls – to the point where I don’t know how we can do business with him.”

The AMA soon turned sour, with Huffman answering fewer than 15 questions and instead letting other administrators answer the rest of the questions.

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The blackout, which includes the most popular subreddits on the site, began at 10:15 AM ET and will last for 48 hours.

Selig included the following in his post: “I asked Reddit whether or not they were flexible on this pricing, and they said it was their understanding whether or not this pricing would happen, and I’d be happy to post the details of the call.” I’m free to. If I want.”