Numerous Reddit communities, comprising around 7,000 subreddits with hundreds of millions of subscribers on the Reddit social network platform, are engaging in a protest against upcoming changes in API pricing that could potentially eliminate a significant number of third-party apps.
Starting from June 12-June 14, the 48-hour period will see moderators of these subreddits switching them to private mode, making them accessible only to approved community members who can view and engage in discussions within those channels. The pages will be inaccessible to everyone else.
Certain subreddits have expressed their intention to remain offline until the planned changes are either revised or completely withdrawn.
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Why the protest is taking place
To understand the context, an API (application programming interface) allows two applications to communicate with each other, enabling developers to access data and create new features.
Like other technology companies such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter, Reddit provides a public API that developers can utilize after agreeing to specific terms and conditions.
Historically, Reddit has provided free access to its API. However, on April 18, the company announced updates to its API terms, introducing charges for API access, which will come into effect on July 1, 2023.
This decision by Reddit comes several months after Twitter announced the suspension of all third-party apps, thereby compelling users to utilize the platform’s official app and website.
Reddit offers a substantial amount of textual content from various communities, making it valuable for training AI language models like ChatGPT and Bard.
The implications for Reddit’s third-party apps
Reddit has a thriving community of third-party app developers who provide users with additional features and customizations beyond what is available on the official Reddit app or website.
Under the new terms, applications with fewer than 100 queries per minute will remain free, accounting for more than 90 percent of current applications, according to Huffman.
However, third-party apps with higher API request volumes will be subject to charges of $0.24 per 1,000 requests.
Apollo, a popular third-party app renowned for its sleek user interface and custom themes on iPhones and iPads, is one of the prominent apps that will cease functioning. Christian Selig, the creator of Apollo, estimates that the new pricing would cost him $20 million per year, based on the current rate of seven billion monthly requests.
Selig announced on June 8 that Apollo will shut down on June 30, citing Reddit’s recent decisions and actions as the cause of this unfortunate outcome.
Other well-known apps like Reddit is Fun, Sync, and Reddplant have also declared their closure due to the new fees.
In response to user outrage, Huffman, known as u/spez on Reddit, defended the changes during an “Ask Me Anything” session, stating that Reddit needs to become a self-sustaining business and can no longer subsidize commercial entities requiring extensive data use.
Huffman clarified that non-commercial, accessibility-focused apps and tools would still have free access.
Despite the widespread backlash, Huffman affirmed that the company has no intentions of revising the forthcoming API changes.
Reddit is among the top 20 most popular sites
Reddit, self-proclaimed as the “front page of the internet,” holds a prominent position among the top 20 most popular websites and boasts an estimated 430 million monthly active users.
As a social media platform and online community, it features a vast array of user-generated content. It is often referred to as the “front page of the internet” due to its popularity and the diverse range of discussions and topics it encompasses.
Here are some key details about Reddit:
Reddit is organized into individual communities called “subreddits.” Each subreddit focuses on a specific topic or theme, and users can subscribe to these subreddits to join discussions, share content, and interact with other community members.
Reddit heavily relies on user-generated content. Users can post links, text posts, images, videos, and other forms of media to initiate discussions and share information within the relevant subreddits. Other users can then upvote or downvote these posts based on their relevance and quality, which determines their visibility on the platform.
Reddit also utilizes an upvoting and downvoting system to determine the popularity and visibility of posts and comments. The more upvotes a post receives, the higher it ranks within the subreddit and on the overall Reddit platform, increasing its visibility to other users. Conversely, downvoted content is pushed lower and may become less visible.
Reddit employs a point system called “karma.” Users earn karma points when their posts or comments receive upvotes. Karma serves as a rough measure of a user’s contribution and reputation within the community.
Each subreddit is moderated by a team of volunteers who ensure that the community adheres to the subreddit’s rules and guidelines. Moderators can remove posts, ban users, and maintain the overall quality of discussions within their respective subreddits.
Reddit is famous for its “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) sessions, where individuals, including celebrities, politicians, and experts, answer questions from the Reddit community. AMAs provide an opportunity for users to engage directly with notable figures and gain insights into various topics.
Reddit covers an extensive range of topics, including news, entertainment, technology, science, gaming, arts, politics, and many more. There are subreddits dedicated to almost any subject imaginable, allowing users to find communities tailored to their specific interests.
Reddit offers official mobile applications for iOS and Android devices, allowing users to access the platform on the go. Additionally, users can browse and participate in Reddit discussions through the website, which features a user-friendly interface.
Reddit Gold was a premium membership program that provided additional features and perks to users, such as an ad-free experience and access to exclusive subreddits. It has since been replaced by Reddit Premium, which offers similar benefits.
Overall, Reddit’s diverse community, extensive range of topics, and user-driven content make it a popular platform for discussions, information sharing, and engagement on the internet.