The massive protest initiated by the Reddit community against the company’s controversial API changes is now fully underway. Thousands of subreddits have opted to “go dark,” effectively making their content inaccessible to users who are not already subscribed. This unprecedented movement represents a significant stand against perceived injustices and a call for accountability.
Among the most influential subreddits participating in this protest are r/Music, r/funny, r/aww, and r/todayilearned—each boasting millions of followers. Their involvement, alongside hundreds of other communities, amplifies the protest’s reach. The momentum has notably surged following CEO Steve Huffman’s AMA, where he defended the new policies, which threaten the existence of beloved third-party applications like RIF and Apollo.
As of last week, over 3,000 subreddits had joined the blackout, but by Monday morning, this number soared to more than 6,200 participating communities, as tracked by a Twitch stream dedicated to monitoring the protest. These subreddits have shared brief messages informing users about their stance against the company’s planned API changes. While most subreddits have committed to a 48-hour blackout, at least 60 communities have vowed to protest indefinitely until the company retracts its changes. Many participants are also urging users to refrain from browsing Reddit altogether, with some establishing Discord servers to encourage users to stay away from the platform.
The backlash against Reddit’s new API policy gained momentum after Christian Selig, the developer of the popular Reddit client Apollo, revealed that the costs associated with the new pricing model could reach up to $20 million annually for him to keep his application operational. Tensions escalated when Reddit accused Selig of “threatening” the company, an allegation he promptly refuted by sharing an audio clip of a conversation with a Reddit employee. Huffman doubled down on his stance during his recent AMA, further fueling the discontent.
“As the subreddit blackout commences, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Reddit community and everyone who is standing up for this cause,” Selig remarked in a message posted on Twitter. “Let’s hope Reddit is listening.”
Frustration among Reddit users extends beyond the treatment of Selig and his app; it also encompasses the loss of moderation and accessibility features that are exclusively available through third-party applications. In a communication to users, moderators of r/blind expressed their concerns, stating that the native Reddit app lacks essential accessibility features, leading to the decision to make their subreddit private.
If we think of Reddit as a restaurant, then third-party applications are the franchises. We can choose to get our burger directly from Reddit or through a franchise. However, the official Reddit location is situated at the edge of a cliff, making it inaccessible to disabled individuals. Reddit is imposing franchise fees that are exorbitantly high, rendering it impossible for anyone else to afford to serve burgers. Along with hundreds of other subreddits, we have chosen to go dark for two days, returning on June 14. Our Discord server remains open for discussion. Thank you for your understanding; the app is so inadequate that vision is required to go dark.
Reddit moderators, who are typically quick to clarify that they are unpaid volunteers, echoed similar sentiments. “In many instances, these third-party apps provide superior moderation tools, customization options, streamlined interfaces, and various quality-of-life enhancements that the official app fails to deliver,” moderators articulated in an open letter. “The potential loss of these services due to the pricing changes would drastically hinder our ability to moderate effectively, thereby negatively impacting user experiences in our communities, as well as our own experiences as moderators and users.”
Currently, it remains uncertain whether this protest will influence the decisions of Reddit’s leadership. The company did not respond immediately to requests for comment but has previously defended the new API policies, citing the rise of generative AI companies that exploit its data. “We’ll continue to prioritize profit until we see substantial returns,” Huffman stated during his recent AMA.
