For over a decade, Reddit’s r/homeimprovement community has been a valuable resource for homeowners seeking advice and information on DIY projects. However, in recent weeks, the community and thousands of other Reddit communities have gone dark in protest of changes to the platform that would force popular third-party apps and services to shut down. The protests were aimed at demonstrating the power and influence of Reddit’s community, but after more than two weeks, most communities have reopened and Reddit has shown no signs of backing down, highlighting the limits of the community’s power.
The decision to charge for API access was initially seen as a positive change by developers like Christian Selig, the creator of the popular app Apollo. However, when Reddit revealed the actual pricing for the API, developers realized that they would be faced with exorbitant costs that would make it impossible for them to continue operating their apps. Selig estimated that he would owe $20 million per year based on his current usage, leading him to announce the shutdown of Apollo. Several other third-party apps, including RIF, ReddPlanet, and Sync, also announced their imminent closures. These apps provided alternative and often preferred experiences for Redditors, so their shutdowns would greatly disrupt the community.
Redditors were quick to rally behind the developers and organize protests to demand that Reddit reconsider its decision. Moderators of numerous subreddits decided to go dark, making their communities temporarily inaccessible to the public. They called for Reddit to reduce the price of API access, allow third-party apps to access sexually explicit content, and provide better accessibility features in its official apps. The goal was to send a clear message to Reddit and prompt them to listen to the concerns of the community.
At the start of the blackouts, over 7,000 subreddits went dark, causing Google search results to suffer and even causing an outage on the Reddit platform itself. The protests received widespread media coverage and seemed to be making a statement. However, Reddit’s CEO Steve Huffman remained steadfast in his decision, believing that the blackouts would eventually pass. He criticized the volunteer moderators for their actions and suggested that Reddit may implement changes to allow users to vote out moderators. This only further infuriated the community and caused a rift in their coordinated efforts.
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Despite some communities extending their blackouts indefinitely, most had only committed to a two-day protest. As the 48-hour window passed, the number of inaccessible subreddits decreased, and Reddit began cracking down on moderators who continued the blackout. The company threatened to remove moderators if they unanimously decided to stop moderating their communities and asked closed subreddit moderators if there were any willing to reopen their communities. These actions by Reddit signaled a shift in power, as the company seemed willing to take control back from the volunteer moderators whenever it saw fit.
This change in Reddit’s approach to its moderators has caused significant concern among the community. Many have expressed disappointment and frustration with Reddit’s disregard for their opinions and autonomy. The company’s stance on the protests and its treatment of volunteer moderators have exposed a lack of empathy and understanding for its users.
As the protests and conflicts continue to unfold, it remains to be seen how Reddit will address the concerns raised by its community. The platform’s handling of this situation could have long-lasting consequences for its reputation and user base. Reddit may need to reassess its relationship with developers and moderators if it wants to maintain the trust and loyalty of its users moving forward.
