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

In a bold move reflecting the collective voice of its community, r/Cybersecurity will temporarily transition to a private status from June 12th to June 14th. This decision comes in response to Reddit’s recent modifications to its API policies, which have raised significant concerns among members regarding the future of third-party applications.

After thoroughly reviewing feedback from the community and discussions through modmail, it has become clear that a majority of users are advocating for Reddit to reconsider its stance on the elimination of third-party applications and the accompanying API restrictions. Without a reversal from Reddit, r/Cybersecurity will participate in a 48-hour blackout as a form of protest.

During this blackout period, the subreddit will be inaccessible to unauthenticated users and new members. Community members are strongly encouraged to refrain from visiting Reddit altogether during this time. Additionally, we invite you to share your suggestions for how we might engage during the blackout. Potential ideas include limiting new posts or comments, introducing alternative social media platforms like Mastodon or Bluesky, or creating a general discussion thread.

The outcome of this protest remains uncertain. Reddit may choose to address community concerns and amend its API policies, or they might escalate their response by removing moderators or enforcing a public status for the subreddit against the community’s wishes. Regardless of the outcome, it has been an honor to serve this vibrant community.

For additional context and insights on the situation, we encourage you to explore the following resources:
– A concise infographic illustrating the issue courtesy of r/videos.
– Discussion on the implications of Reddit’s API changes
– An open letter discussing the API pricing and its impact on moderators and communities
– A growing list of major Reddit communities participating in the blackout

Let your voice be heard and stand united as we navigate these changes—together, we strive for a better platform.