Major Reddit Communities Extend Indefinite Blackout Over API Pricing
Moderators of thousands of Reddit communities, including several with tens of millions of followers, pledge to keep their subreddits dark indefinitely. The protest continues as Reddit's leadership remains silent on core concerns regarding expensive API pricing changes.
Moderators of thousands of Reddit communities pledge to keep their subreddits private or restricted indefinitely to protest expensive API pricing changes. While the original blackout lasts only 48 hours, over 300 subreddits initially commit to extending the protest, including massive communities like r/aww, r/music, and r/videos. Moderators state that Reddit only budges microscopically by restoring access to a data-archiving tool, leaving their core concerns unsatisfied.
Frustration grows as Reddit remains silent since the blackout begins. Moderators point to a leaked memo from CEO Steve Huffman, who dismisses the situation by stating that "like all blowups on Reddit, this one will pass as well." This dismissive attitude prompts organizers to declare that more action is needed to force the company to address the damaging API changes that threaten third-party apps and moderator tools.
Organizers acknowledge that not every subreddit can stay dark forever due to the critical nature of their content. Communities like r/stopDrinking and r/Ukraine remain open because they provide essential support and urgent news to vulnerable populations. For subreddits that cannot close indefinitely, moderators suggest alternative actions like "Touch-Grass-Tuesdays," allowing individual communities to show ongoing support on their own terms.