r/techsupport Goes Dark in Protest of Reddit’s API Changes

In a decisive move, the moderation team of r/techsupport has announced plans to temporarily suspend the subreddit starting June 12th in protest of Reddit’s recent API pricing changes. This decision comes in response to the platform’s new policy that is poised to eliminate numerous cherished third-party mobile applications, thereby compromising user experience and community management.

What’s Happening?

On May 31, 2023, Reddit revealed a significant increase in the fees associated with accessing their API. This adjustment will effectively render many third-party apps—such as Apollo, Reddit is Fun, Narwhal, and BaconReader—cost-prohibitive and, as a consequence, unsustainable. The effect of this change extends beyond mobile users; it threatens the accessibility of various tools that allow for a customized Reddit experience, including browser extensions like Reddit Enhancement Suite and even the old.reddit.com interface.

The implications of this decision are particularly concerning for subreddit moderators, many of whom rely on these external applications to maintain the quality and relevance of their communities. The ability to manage posts effectively and mitigate spam is critical for ensuring that subreddits remain engaging and informative.

Our Response

In light of these developments, the r/techsupport moderation team has made the difficult choice to go dark for at least 48 hours in solidarity with those impacted by the changes. Our aim is to raise awareness about the detrimental effects this API alteration will have on the Reddit experience for everyone.

How You Can Get Involved

We invite all community members and supporters to take action in the following ways:

• Sign the Open Letter: Consider reading and signing the open letter available here.

• Spread the Word: Share your thoughts on social media platforms to amplify our message and foster awareness of the issue.

We apologize for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause, particularly for those who rely on our subreddit for support. However, we believe firmly that this stand is in the best interest of both our community and the myriad of users who benefit from third-party applications. During this period, our Live Chat service on Discord will remain accessible for continued support.

Additional Resources

For further reading on this issue and related discussions, consider exploring the following links:

• [What We Want](https://www