Popular communities prepare for a 48-hour blackout, potentially affecting millions of users
In a surprising turn of events, Reddit is now facing a brewing storm as several influential subreddits prepare to “go dark” for 48 hours next week. The move is in response to the platform’s recent announcement of increased pricing for its API access, causing discontent among developers and users alike.
Reddit’s decision to raise API access fees aims to monetize the extensive usage of its data by prominent developers, particularly in the realm of generative AI tools. These tools have utilized Reddit and Twitter as valuable sources for conversational data, generating massive profits by selling their models to customers. It is estimated that these businesses have collectively generated billions in revenue, heavily relying on Reddit and Twitter conversations.
Twitter had previously implemented a similar pricing adjustment to its API access in March, prompting Reddit’s initiative to establish a fairer system for API use. However, this change will also affect numerous smaller third-party Reddit clients and tools, commonly employed by many users to enhance their Reddit experience.
One notable example is the Apollo app, a beloved Reddit reader that offers an alternative interface and additional features like screen-reader compatibility. With the new API access charges, Apollo’s developer claims to have received a staggering monthly quote of approximately $2 million. Such exorbitant costs are likely to force him, along with many others, out of the market, and will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the Reddit community as a whole.
As a result, numerous subreddits, including the prominent communities of r/videos, r/reactiongifs, r/earthporn, and r/lifeprotips, are planning to set themselves to private on June 12th as part of the 48-hour protest against the new API pricing. This move, commonly referred to as “going dark,” will render the participating communities inaccessible to the wider public during the demonstration.
The repercussions of this protest are significant, potentially disrupting Reddit’s user engagement and impeding the platform’s efforts to bolster its business standing and attract advertisers. The controversy surrounding the API pricing changes may dissuade potential ad partners, who were previously considering subreddit outreach, due to the unrest within the Reddit community.
The Verge reports that Reddit’s decision to increase API access costs has caused significant concern, prompting this unprecedented protest. The 48-hour blackout, scheduled to take place on June 12th, will undoubtedly send shockwaves through the Reddit community and could spark a crucial conversation about the platform’s future direction.
As Reddit grapples with the fallout from these pricing changes, the stakes are high, and the impact on both users and advertisers remains uncertain. It remains to be seen whether Reddit will reassess its strategy and find a resolution that satisfies developers, users, and the broader Reddit community.