r/cybersecurity to Go Private: Community Stands Against Reddit’s API Changes
In a decisive move reflecting the voice of its members, the r/cybersecurity subreddit will transition to a private setting from June 12th to June 14th. This action is taken in response to Reddit’s controversial alterations to its API policies, which have led to the discontinuation of third-party applications.
The recent feedback gathered through a dedicated post and modmail indicates a strong consensus among community members: a resounding desire for Reddit to reconsider its approach to third-party apps and the API restrictions. As a result, the moderators of r/cybersecurity have made the determination to join a blackout, beginning at midnight on June 12th and concluding at midnight on June 14th.
During this blackout, the subreddit will be inaccessible to both new members and users who are not logged in. Community members are encouraged to refrain from visiting Reddit altogether during this period. If you have suggestions on how the community should engage during the blackout—whether by generating social media discussions on platforms such as Mastodon, Lemmy, or Bluesky, or by creating a general chat thread—please share your thoughts in the comments.
The future remains uncertain. Reddit may choose to reverse its API policy, thereby alleviating some of the community’s concerns, or it may take further actions that could damage trust between the platform and its users, including the potential removal of moderators or forcing subreddits to remain public against their wishes. Regardless of the outcome, your moderators have appreciated the opportunity to serve this community.
For those seeking more information about the current situation and its implications, we have compiled a list of valuable resources:
- A succinct infographic illustrating the situation, credited to r/videos
- A post detailing the impact of API changes on third-party apps
- An open letter addressing the API pricing issue and its repercussions
- **[A growing list of major subreddits participating in the blackout](https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/1401qw5
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