Important Announcement: r/cybersecurity Goes Private in Protest of Reddit’s API Changes

From June 12th to June 14th, the subreddit r/cybersecurity will temporarily transition to a private setting to voice our collective discontent regarding Reddit’s recent alterations to its API and the subsequent phasing out of third-party applications.

After thoroughly reviewing community feedback—as seen in our previous discussions—it’s clear that a significant portion of our members wishes for Reddit to reconsider its decision to impose restrictions on API access, which jeopardizes the viability of third-party apps. Therefore, unless Reddit reverses its course, r/cybersecurity will participate in a 48-hour blackout, during which time the subreddit will be inaccessible to new members and users who are not logged in.

During this blackout, we encourage supporters to avoid visiting Reddit altogether. We would also love to hear your suggestions on how we can utilize this period effectively. Ideas may include limiting new posts and comments, introducing alternatives to social media platforms like Mastodon, Lemmy, or Bluesky, or perhaps hosting a general discussion thread for community engagement. We’re eager to hear your preferences on how we should proceed during this period of protest.

As we navigate this situation, it’s possible that Reddit may reconsider its stance, or they may take more drastic measures that could erode trust within the community, including potential changes to moderation staff or forcing our subreddit to remain public. Regardless of the outcomes, we truly appreciate your support and participation.

For further information regarding these critical changes and their implications, please consider the following resources:

• A succinct infographic from the r/videos community that outlines the situation.
• A detailed discussion on the implications of removing third-party apps.
• An open letter discussing API pricing concerns and their impact on moderating communities.
• A growing list of major Reddit communities taking part in the blackout.

Thank you for your understanding and continued engagement in these important discussions. Together