In recent weeks, a number of popular subreddits staged blackouts to protest against the website’s API changes. Although most of these subreddits have resumed normal operation, some moderators have taken additional measures to express their dissatisfaction with the platform. According to The Verge, a handful of subreddits that previously prohibited adult content have decided to allow NSFW (Not Safe For Work) posts. Notable communities that have made this decision include r/interestingasfuck, r/TIHI (Thanks, I Hate It), r/mildlyinteresting, and r/videos.
One example of this shift is seen in the r/TIHI subreddit, where a stickied post explains that the community is now lifting its previous ban on extreme NSFW content, provided that it complies with US law. Similarly, r/interestingasfuck has implemented new rules that require posts to be labeled as NSFW when applicable and prohibit any sexual content involving minors. The intention behind allowing NSFW content in these subreddits is to prevent Reddit from being able to monetize them. NSFW subreddits have not been eligible for ad targeting for several years, and the website also does not allow ads for adult-oriented products.
Reddit’s response to these subreddits allowing NSFW content has been swift. Administrators have reportedly removed entire moderating teams for communities that have marked themselves as NSFW. A quick look at the r/interestingasfuck and r/TIHI subreddits reveals empty moderator boxes with a note stating that the subreddit is unmoderated and prompts users to visit r/redditrequest to request moderation. Tim Rathschmidt, a Reddit spokesperson, stated that marking a community as NSFW incorrectly violates both the Content Policy and the Moderator Code of Conduct.
On the other hand, the other mentioned subreddits now have a full moderating team and have returned to their previous content policies without explicit posts. It remains unclear whether the moderators themselves decided to revert to their original rules or were forced to do so. Some moderators of r/mildlyinteresting explained that while they were initially locked out of their subreddits by a Reddit admin, they were reinstated by a different administrator who reversed their seven-day suspension.
The underlying issue that sparked these events was Reddit’s decision to charge access to its API. Originally intended to target companies scraping the website for content used to train generative AI models, this decision also affected numerous third-party clients and apps that integrate with the platform, including those with moderation tools. In response to this move, thousands of communities decided to make their subreddits private, rendering them inaccessible to users.
Nevertheless, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman showed little concern regarding the protest, stating to NPR, “It’s a small group that’s very upset, and there’s no way around that. We made a business decision that upset them.” Huffman also mentioned plans to enable ordinary users to vote moderators out more easily based on their decisions. In line with this sentiment, a company representative echoed the idea of inviting new, active moderators to take over if an existing moderator team unanimously decides to stop moderating.
While many subreddits have returned to normalcy after the blackouts, the allowance of NSFW content in previously restricted communities highlights ongoing tensions between moderators and the platform. The API changes and the subsequent protests have revealed the power dynamics between Reddit administrators and the communities that rely on the platform for their operations. As Reddit continues to navigate these challenges, its approach to moderation and changes to its API will undoubtedly shape the future of the platform and its relationship with its user base.
