Thousands of Reddit communities will be inaccessible on Monday as moderators take a stand against new charges implemented by the platform. Reddit is introducing controversial fees for developers of third-party apps that facilitate browsing the site. In response, moderators of some of the largest subreddits have made their communities private for 48 hours, resulting in approximately 3,500 subreddits becoming inaccessible.
Subreddits are individual forums within the Reddit platform where communities gather to discuss specific interests. Reddit users, known as Redditors, typically join various subreddits to see relevant posts in their feed. Unlike other social media platforms, Reddit heavily relies on community moderation. Tens of thousands of unpaid moderators, or “mods,” ensure the functionality of the website, spending hours each day moderating discussions, removing off-topic or prohibited content, and maintaining the quality of their respective subreddits.
However, Reddit does not charge hosting fees for users to create their own communities based on their interests. In an effort to become a self-sustaining business, Reddit is introducing charges for third-party app developers. The platform’s chief executive, Steve Huffman, acknowledged the protest and emphasized the need for an open and accessible space for community building.
The blackout encompasses a total of 3,489 subreddits, including five of the site’s most popular communities, such as r/gaming, r/aww, r/Music, r/todayilearned, and r/pics, each boasting more than 30 million members. Moderators believe that their collective action demonstrates “strength in numbers” and puts pressure on Reddit to acknowledge their vital role in operating the platform. As volunteers, moderators receive no financial compensation for their efforts but take their responsibilities seriously.
The introduction of charges by Reddit has sparked criticism, with developers of third-party apps, such as Apollo, Reddit is Fun, Sync, and ReddPlanet, announcing their shutdowns in response. These charges have been called extortionate, with one developer estimating costs of $20 million to continue operating their app. Reddit argues that their pricing is based on usage levels and aims to cover hosting fees, ensuring fair compensation for supporting third-party apps.
While the blackout is initially set for 48 hours, moderators suggest it may extend or remain indefinite until Reddit reverses its policy. Some subreddits, including r/Music with 32 million members, have already announced indefinite inaccessibility. The ongoing communication between moderators and Reddit administrators indicates that a reversal of the changes is unlikely, leaving communities to evaluate their next steps in response to the platform’s decision.
