Upcoming Reddit Blackout: A Community Stand Against API Changes

Attention, cybersecurity enthusiasts! From June 12th to June 14th, the r/cybersecurity subreddit will temporarily shift to a private status as a demonstration against Reddit’s recent API modifications and the subsequent elimination of third-party applications.

After carefully considering your feedback from both a recent discussion post and messages via modmail, it’s clear that the majority of our community is calling for Reddit to reconsider its decision regarding third-party app support and API access limitations.

If no positive changes occur from Reddit during this period, r/cybersecurity will engage in a 48-hour blackout. This means the subreddit will not be accessible to new members or users who are not logged in. Following the blackout, we will consult with all of you to determine the next steps—whether it involves extending the protest or exploring other actions.

During the blackout, we highly encourage community members to refrain from visiting Reddit altogether. We also invite any suggestions for activities we could undertake during this period—this could include limiting new posts and comments, creating introductions to alternative social media platforms like Mastodon or Bluesky, or even initiating chat threads about the situation.

The future remains uncertain; Reddit could either choose to adjust their stance or take measures that undermine our trust further, such as removing moderation teams or forcing us to keep the subreddit public. Regardless of the outcome, it has been our privilege to serve this community.

For those interested in more details about the motivation behind this protest, here are some useful resources:
– An insightful infographic provided by r/videos.
– A discussion on why we shouldn’t allow Reddit to phase out third-party apps. Read here.
– An open letter detailing the implications of the new API pricing on moderation and community engagement.
– A list of significant subreddits participating in the blackout can be found here.

Together, let’s stand united for our community and the values we uphold