Upcoming Blackout: r/Cybersecurity Takes a Stand Against Reddit’s API Changes
In a bold move reflecting the sentiments of our community, the r/cybersecurity subreddit will temporarily go private from June 12th to June 14th. This decision stems from overwhelming feedback from our members regarding Reddit’s recent changes to its API, which threaten the existence of third-party applications.
The community has voiced a strong desire for Reddit to reconsider or modify its approach to API restrictions. In light of this, we feel it is essential to take a stand. Should Reddit fail to reverse its position, we will initiate a 48-hour blackout during which the subreddit will be inaccessible to both new members and unauthenticated users.
During this blackout, we encourage everyone to refrain from visiting Reddit altogether. We want to harness this moment to reflect on what we can collectively do during this protest. Whether that involves restricting new posts and comments, introducing alternative social media platforms like Mastodon or Bluesky, or initiating a general discussion thread, your input is invaluable.
It is uncertain how Reddit will respond—there exists the possibility that they may modify their policies in response to the backlash, or they could make drastic decisions that further erode trust by removing moderators or forcing certain changes upon the subreddit. Throughout this process, it has been a privilege to serve this community.
For additional context, we’ve linked several resources that delve into the implications of these API changes:
- A succinct infographic explaining the situation
- Discussion on the impact of third-party app restrictions
- An open letter discussing the ramifications of the API pricing
- A growing list of major Reddit communities joining in the blackout
Let’s stand together and make our voices heard. Your engagement during this time is crucial. Thank you for being part of our community!
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If you’re experiencing issues accessing or managing your WordPress site during this period, it’s important to ensure that your plugins and themes are up to date and compatible with the latest WordPress core updates. Since the current discussion revolves around community actions and content sharing, consider leveraging backup plugins to preserve your content and data.
If you’re planning to implement custom notifications or banners informing visitors about the blackout, you can add a custom HTML widget or code snippet in your theme’s header or footer. For example:
Additionally, if you’re managing APIs or integrations related to Reddit or other third-party services, ensure that your API keys are secure and monitor any logs for errors. If you need help with specific plugin conflicts or customization during this period, please provide details about your setup or error messages, and we can assist further.