r/TranscribersOfReddit, a popular Reddit community composed of volunteers who transcribe various forms of media for subreddits like r/ProgrammerHumor and r/technicallythetruth, is set to shut down on June 30th, 2023. This decision came after a post from one of the moderators, Rebekah Ginsburg, also known as u/halailah on Reddit and the chairwoman of Grafeas Group, the nonprofit organization behind r/TranscribersOfReddit, stated that the platform’s lack of accessibility features and Reddit’s unwillingness to address these issues were the primary reasons for the shutdown.
Since its inception, r/TranscribersOfReddit has focused on highlighting the inadequacies of the Reddit platform, especially the absence of alt text and other accessibility features. In response, the community stepped in to provide temporary transcriptions as a constructive solution and bring attention to these problems. Ginsburg mentioned positive relationships with Reddit administrators over the past six years, which led them to believe that Reddit was committed to addressing these flaws. However, recent events have shown that Reddit corporate lacks the willingness to fix these core issues, according to Ginsburg.
One of the factors contributing to the shutdown is Reddit’s upcoming API changes, which may result in substantial costs for using the API. While Ginsburg acknowledged that these changes might make it more challenging for Transcribers of Reddit to function, she expressed the belief that further modifications would eventually render it impossible. Additionally, the API changes have also disrupted plans to transition to a custom third-party app for the service, leading to the decision to close down the community.
The impending closure of r/TranscribersOfReddit has left many users saddened. One user, u/MostlyBlindGamer, who is also a moderator on r/blind, expressed how transcriptions on r/ProgrammerHumor helped them stay connected with work-related memes. Another user stated that the community and the subreddit r/worldnewsvideo would deeply miss the transcribers, acknowledging their efforts to make Reddit accessible to everyone.
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Ginsburg, in the shutdown announcement, highlighted Reddit’s unclear timeline for accessibility improvements to its official app and how the discontinuation of some third-party apps would impact users. Blind and visually impaired moderators heavily rely on these third-party apps for moderation purposes since the Reddit app lacks the necessary features. The exemption of accessibility-focused apps from API fees, such as RedReader, Dystopia, and Luna, was mentioned by Reddit. However, a post on the read-only subreddit r/software revealed that these apps do not possess full moderator functionality. This situation leaves many moderators concerned about their ability to fulfill their roles if the third-party apps shut down at the end of the month.
The lack of trust in Reddit and disappointment in its responses to user protests also played a significant role in the decision to close the r/TranscribersOfReddit community. Reddit did hold a meeting with moderators of r/blind and other accessibility-focused subreddits on June 16th. However, the discussion failed to alleviate apprehensions, as Reddit seemed unaware that the exempted apps lack adequate moderation functions. When concerns were voiced regarding the possibility of blind moderators being removed at Reddit’s discretion, the company decided to defer comment.
While Reddit acknowledges the need for improvement in accessibility, CEO Steve Huffman stated in a June 9th AMA that there is no excuse for their own apps lacking these features. In response to The Verge, Reddit spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt mentioned that the company is currently exploring various options. Nonetheless, until these changes are implemented, Reddit may become increasingly challenging for certain individuals to use.
At the time of writing, Reddit has not responded to a request for comment. Tim Rathschmidt did mention that the company would refrain from commenting on unsubstantiated claims or baseless accusations from The Verge, promising to be in touch for necessary corrections.
