r/Cybersecurity to Go Private in Protest of Reddit’s API Changes
From June 12th to 14th, the r/cybersecurity community will temporarily transition to a private status in response to significant changes in Reddit’s API policy.
In recent communications—both through a detailed community post and moderator messages—we’ve gathered feedback from our members. The overwhelming consensus is the desire for Reddit to reconsider its recent decision to terminate third-party applications and impose stringent restrictions on its API access.
Unless Reddit amends its API policies, r/cybersecurity will participate in a 48-hour blackout beginning June 12th and concluding on June 14th. Should Reddit not relent during this period, we will engage the community in discussions about our next steps, whether that be an extension of the protest or another course of action. Ultimately, the direction we take will be determined by your voices.
During this blackout, the subreddit will be inaccessible to both new members and unauthenticated users. We strongly encourage all community members to refrain from visiting Reddit during this time. We welcome your suggestions during the blackout period. For instance, would you prefer to limit new posts and comments, introduce alternative social media platforms such as Mastodon, Lemmy, or Bluesky, or make space for general community discussions? Your input is invaluable.
The next steps are uncertain; Reddit could either reconsider their approach or take more drastic measures that could further erode trust within the community—such as removing moderation teams or maintaining public access to subreddits. Regardless of the outcome, it has been a privilege to serve as your moderators.
For further insights and information on these developments, please consult the following resources:
- An informative infographic summarizing the situation
- A comprehensive discussion on the implications of Reddit’s API changes
- An open letter addressing the concerns of moderators and communities affected by the new pricing structure
- A list of major Reddit communities participating in the upcoming blackout
Thank you for being a part of this community, and for standing with us in these challenging times. We appreciate your continued engagement and support.
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If you’re experiencing issues accessing Reddit or your subreddit is temporarily private, it’s important to understand that this is a deliberate action taken by the community in protest of Reddit’s recent API policy changes. This means that during the blackout period from June 12 to June 14, the r/cybersecurity subreddit will be inaccessible to all users.
To stay informed and participate in the community discussions, consider the following steps:
Remember, participating in community protests like this highlights the importance of API access for moderation tools and third