Community in Action: r/Cybersecurity to Go Private in Protest of Reddit’s API Changes

From June 12th to June 14th, the subreddit r/cybersecurity will temporarily switch to a private setting as a strong statement against recent alterations to Reddit’s API that threaten the existence of third-party applications. This decision comes after comprehensive feedback collected from community members who are expressing significant concern over these changes.

The overwhelming sentiment within our community advocates for modifications or a complete reversal of Reddit’s recent API restrictions, which have critical implications for third-party apps. Therefore, unless Reddit reassesses its stance, our subreddit will participate in a 48-hour blackout starting on June 12th and concluding on June 14th. Should Reddit maintain its current position, we will then consult our community on the next steps—be it extending the protest or pursuing alternative actions. The choice will ultimately belong to our members.

During the blackout, access to the subreddit will be restricted for new members and unauthenticated users. We strongly encourage everyone to refrain from visiting Reddit during this period. We also welcome any suggestions you may have regarding our activities during the protest. Ideas could include limiting new posts or comments, introducing alternatives to Reddit such as Mastodon, Lemmy, or BlueSky, or creating a dedicated thread for community discussions.

As outcomes remain uncertain, Reddit may either relent and adjust their policies or take further actions that could diminish trust by removing moderators or insisting on maintaining public access to the subreddit. Regardless of the outcome, we deem it a privilege to serve this vibrant community.

For more insight into the situation and its ramifications, consider exploring these resources:

• Update: Check out this concise infographic created by r/videos that succinctly summarizes the issue.
• Read our community’s perspective: Don’t Let Reddit Kill 3rd Party Apps
• Explore an open letter addressing the concerns regarding API pricing and its impact on moderators and communities.
• Discover a [growing list of major Reddit communities participating in the blackout](https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/1401