r/cybersecurity Goes Private to Protest Reddit’s API Changes

From June 12th to 14th, the r/cybersecurity subreddit will temporarily transition to a private status as part of a collective protest against Reddit’s recent API modifications and the detrimental impact on third-party applications.

Following extensive discussions and feedback from our community, it is clear that a significant number of participants want Reddit to reconsider its decision to restrict API access and eliminate support for third-party apps. In light of this overwhelming sentiment, r/cybersecurity will join the wider blackout, effectively rendering the subreddit inaccessible to new users and unauthenticated visitors during the protest.

During this 48-hour period, we strongly encourage our community members to refrain from visiting Reddit altogether. We invite you to share your thoughts on how we can best utilize this time—whether it’s by limiting new posts and comments, introducing alternative platforms like Mastodon, Lemmy, or Bluesky, or even hosting a general discussion thread.

The future of our subreddit will largely depend on how Reddit responds to this protest. If the platform decides to reverse its position, that will be a victory for our community. Conversely, if Reddit takes a more aggressive stance, such as removing moderators or forcing our subreddit to remain public, we’ll need to reassess our options together.

Regardless of the outcome, it has been an honor to serve as your moderators, and we appreciate the support and solidarity of our community during this critical time.

For further details on the situation and its implications, please take a look at the following resources:

• Infographic: A concise illustration outlining the issues at stake, courtesy of r/videos.
• Discussion Thread: Engaging conversation on the impact of these changes on third-party applications and the user experience.
• Open Letter: A detailed analysis of API pricing and the consequences for moderators and communities.
• Participating Communities: A growing list of major Reddit communities also opting for the blackout.

Your voice matters. Thank you for standing with us as we navigate this challenging situation together.