r/techsupport Goes Dark: Standing Against Reddit’s API Changes

In a bold move to protest recent developments, the moderation team of r/techsupport has decided to suspend activity on the subreddit for 48 hours, beginning June 12. This action is in response to Reddit’s alarming changes to its API, which threaten to eliminate numerous popular third-party applications that have significantly enhanced user experience on the platform.

What’s Happening?

On May 31, 2023, Reddit announced plans to monetize its API access by drastically increasing the costs associated with API calls. This decision is expected to lead to the shutdown of beloved third-party mobile applications such as Apollo, Reddit is Fun, Narwhal, and BaconReader, which many users rely on for their unique features that are absent in the official Reddit app.

For those who do not utilize these mobile applications, it’s important to understand that this shift extends beyond mobile usage. It hints at a broader potential suppression of user customization tools—including the widely-used Reddit Enhancement Suite and the old.reddit.com desktop interface—that many users have come to appreciate.

Why This Matters

The implications of this change are far-reaching. Not only does it affect everyday users, but many subreddit moderators depend on external tools, unavailable on the official app, to effectively manage their communities and ensure they remain focused and free from spam. The loss of these capabilities could have detrimental effects on the future of various subreddits.

How to Get Involved

The moderation team firmly believes in the necessity of voicing opposition against these changes. To amplify their message, they encourage users to:

• Sign the open letter. You can find the letter here.
• Raise awareness. Share your thoughts on social media to inform others about the importance of this issue and the potential consequences for the Reddit community.

While the subreddit remains inactive for this duration, the moderators assure users that they will maintain a Live Chat on Discord, ensuring that support is still accessible during the shutdown.

Join the Conversation

The moderators appreciate the understanding of their community during this important stand. They believe that this action is pivotal for the greater good and hope that it sparks a larger conversation about the future of Reddit and its commitment to user-centric policies.

For further reading and resources related to this topic, check out these links