Between June 12 and 14, the r/cybersecurity community will become private in protest of Reddit’s API modifications and the discontinuation of third-party applications.

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Major Blackout Announcement: r/Cybersecurity Takes a Stand Against Reddit’s API Changes

Attention, cybersecurity community!

From June 12th to 14th, the r/cybersecurity subreddit will temporarily go private as part of a collective protest against Reddit’s recent changes to its API policies, which threaten the existence of third-party applications.

Following extensive feedback gathered from our users and discussions through modmail, it has become evident that a significant majority of you feel passionately about urging Reddit to reconsider or amend its recent decisions regarding API restrictions and the discontinuation of third-party apps.

Unless Reddit reverses its course on these API changes, we will participate in a 48-hour blackout. Beginning on June 12th and concluding on June 14th, this means that the subreddit will be inaccessible to both new members and unauthenticated users. During this time, we strongly recommend refraining from visiting the site. After the blackout, we plan to gauge your thoughts on our next steps—whether to extend the protest or explore different avenues.

During this blackout period, we welcome your suggestions on how our community can best utilize this time. Ideas may include limiting new posts or comments, introducing alternative social platforms like Mastodon, Lemmy, or Bluesky, or even creating a general chat thread to foster communication among our members. Your input is invaluable to us!

While Reddit may choose to reconsider its approach, we remain vigilant for potential actions that could compromise the trust between the platform and its users, including possible changes to moderators or maintaining the subreddit as public. Regardless of the outcome, we greatly appreciate the opportunity to serve and support this community.

For more information about the current situation and its implications, explore the following resources:

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  1. Thank you for sharing this important update. If you’re managing or participating in communities affected by API changes or blackout protests, consider the following technical tips:

    • To inform your community members about upcoming events or changes, you might want to create custom banners or sticky posts before the blackout period begins.
    • Use Reddit’s API or third-party tools during active periods to monitor engagement metrics or gather feedback, but ensure compliance with API policies.
    • If your community plans to migrate or create alternative communication channels (like Mastodon, Lemmy, or Bluesky), consider automating onboarding processes or integrating notifications via webhook or RSS feeds.
    • For managing temporary closures or blackout notices, consider setting up maintenance mode pages or redirecting community links to informational resources.
    • Ensure your moderation team is prepared with clear guidelines on handling community questions during the blackout, possibly utilizing modmail and automation tools to streamline responses.

    If you need assistance with custom scripts, setting up notifications, or automating community management tasks during this period, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help ensure your community stays informed and engaged even during challenging transitions.

    Reply

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