In a collective demonstration against impending changes that would restrict users’ access to APIs and tools, various Reddit communities, particularly those focused on cryptocurrencies, have unanimously decided to go private or in read-only modes for 48 hours.
The protest stems from Reddit’s recent announcement of plans to modify how users engage with the Reddit Data API. Originally created seven years ago, this API has allowed developers to create useful tools and utilities for moderation and other community-related activities.
The move has been met with backlash from most subreddits, as Reddit’s intention to develop native moderator tools directly impacts the ability of communities to create and utilize third-party applications widely used for moderating content and interactions. As a result, the affected communities have opted to go private or read-only between June 12 and 14 as a means of protesting the upcoming changes.
Notable crypto subreddits, including r/Bitcoin, r/CryptoCurrency, and r/cardano, have joined the blackout, having played a crucial role in facilitating discussions among millions of global investors about various aspects of the crypto ecosystem.
The backlash against Reddit has further intensified due to the introduction of paid access to its data API. Although it was estimated that nearly 3,500 subreddits would become inaccessible, this number could rise if more communities join the revolt. However, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman stands by the decision, stating the need for the platform to be a “self-sustaining business” while acknowledging and respecting the action taken by communities to address their concerns.
Additionally, in an effort to minimize the use of third-party moderator tools, Reddit plans to launch mobile moderator tools for its iOS and Android apps in the coming months.
While the community uprising against Reddit’s policy changes continues, the platform is also making progress in another aspect. Reddit has achieved a significant milestone by garnering 10 million holders of its collectible avatars within a year of introducing Reddit NFTs.
The Reddit collectible avatar marketplace was initially launched on the Polygon layer-2 scaling network on the Ethereum blockchain in July 2022. This platform empowers independent artists and Redditors to create customizable non-fungible token collections, offering a unique digital ownership experience.
