On June 12-14, the r/cybersecurity community will switch to private in protest against Reddit’s API modifications and the shutdown of third-party applications.

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r/cybersecurity Goes Private: A Bold Stand Against Reddit’s API Changes

In a significant move, the r/cybersecurity community will transition to a private subreddit from June 12th to 14th in protest of Reddit’s recent modifications to its API and the resulting impact on third-party applications.

After careful consideration of feedback from our community members, it is clear that there is overwhelming support for the reversal or amendment of these changes that threaten the existence of essential third-party apps. Therefore, if there is no action taken by Reddit to address these concerns, we will proceed with a 48-hour blackout. Should there be no movement from Reddit, we will look to our community for guidance on our next steps, whether that be extending the protest or pursuing alternative actions.

During this blackout period, access to our subreddit will be limited to authenticated users only, preventing new members or visitors from browsing. We also encourage everyone to refrain from using Reddit altogether during this time. Should you have any suggestions on how the community could engage during the blackout—be it restricting new posts and comments, introducing alternative platforms like Mastodon or Bluesky, or creating a dedicated discussion thread—please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

There are potential outcomes that may arise from this protest. Reddit may opt to reverse their decision and help restore the trust of its user base, or they could escalate the situation further by removing moderators or keeping our subreddit public against our wishes. Regardless of the outcome, serving you as moderators in this community has been a true privilege.

Additional Resources:

Join us in this important stand for the future of our community and tools we rely

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One Comment

  1. Hello,

    Thank you for sharing this update about the r/cybersecurity community’s planned blackout. If you’re experiencing issues accessing or managing your own subreddit during this period, here are a few tips that might help:

    • Moderation Tools: Even during a blackout, you can still manage your moderator permissions or schedule posts using the Reddit API. Make sure your API credentials are up to date and that your bots or moderation scripts have the appropriate permissions.
    • Private Subreddit Settings: To limit access to your subreddit, navigate to your subreddit’s Moderation Tools > Community Settings. Here, you can set the subreddit to private or restricted to authenticated users only.
    • Engagement During Blackout: Since members are encouraged to refrain from using Reddit, consider setting up an alternative platform such as a dedicated chat server or a forum. You can also create a temporary website or use existing platforms like Discord or Mastodon for ongoing discussions.
    • API Monitoring: If your tools rely on Reddit’s API, monitor their status and ensure they are configured to handle API rate limits and possible disruptions during
    Reply

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