Reddit reaffirms its API pricing choices and warns of potential intervention in blacked-out subreddits
Reddit’s recent API pricing policies have generated significant controversy for the platform known as “the front page of the internet.” Despite facing widespread backlash and community solidarity over the past few days, Reddit appears resolute in its stance.
During an interview with The Verge, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman defended the contentious pricing changes as a mere “business decision.” He emphasized that, despite the protests and blackouts conducted by numerous subreddits for several days, the company has no intentions of reversing its course.
Adding to the concerns, a post on r/ModSupport—a subreddit established to facilitate communication between moderators and Reddit admins—explained that moderators who choose to “stop moderating” will face removal from their positions.
The blackouts on Reddit have undeniably impacted users, particularly those who rely on the site for archiving and troubleshooting. However, amidst the API alterations, the community has rallied behind moderators, expressing their support for the decisions made.
One major source of unrest among moderators has been the rigid enforcement of the API pricing change deadline, set for July 1st, 2023. In a recent statement, Huffman indicated a willingness to provide moderators with more flexible transition periods, potentially hinting at a potential reconsideration of the changes. This gesture may serve as an early indication of a potential reversal.
Nevertheless, the repercussions of these changes are already apparent, as third-party clients have begun to discontinue their operations on the platform. Christian Selig, the developer behind Apollo, estimates that the modifications will result in an annual cost of $20 million USD (approximately $20 million CAD).
Amidst the recent turmoil, Reddit published a blog post aiming to provide users with “key facts” regarding the API pricing adjustments. Additionally, the company announced that, as of June 15th, 80 percent of the platform’s top 5,000 subreddits are functioning normally, indicating that the majority remain unaffected by the changes.
