Reddit Faces Massive Blackout Over Sudden API Pricing Changes
Thousands of Reddit communities go dark to protest new API access fees that force popular third-party apps to shut down. The ongoing dispute sparks creative protests and brings strict actions from Reddit administrators.
Reddit sparks a major controversy by announcing plans to charge for access to its application programming interface (API), a feature that remains free since 2008. This sudden pricing change forces multiple third-party applications, including the popular Apollo app, to shut down completely. The new fees also threaten essential accessibility applications and community moderation tools that rely on the API to function.
In response to these changes, thousands of subreddit moderators organize a massive blackout starting on June 12 by making their communities private or restricting all posts. When Reddit CEO Steve Huffman releases an internal memo pushing back against the protests, some defiant moderators extend the blackout and adopt alternate forms of disruption. Users in major subreddits like r/pics and r/gifs vote to exclusively post images of comedian John Oliver, while other communities intentionally label themselves as not safe for work (NSFW) to disrupt Reddit's advertising revenue.
Reddit administrators react firmly to these unconventional protests by removing the entire moderation teams of several subreddits that incorrectly apply the NSFW label. A company spokesperson states that these removals occur due to direct violations of the Content Policy and Moderator Code of Conduct. Although several moderation teams eventually regain their positions, the widespread backlash ultimately causes a mass migration of users and communities to alternative online platforms.