In a widespread display of dissent, numerous sub-communities on Reddit, including popular crypto subreddits, have unanimously decided to go private for 48 hours. This protest is in response to new company policies introduced by Reddit that prevent the use of third-party applications, particularly affecting the functionality and moderation tools that communities rely on.
The move has drawn the ire of various communities, prompting them to go private or switch to read-only mode from June 12 to June 14, as a form of protest against the impending alterations. Notably, major crypto communities such as r/Bitcoin, r/CryptoCurrency, and r/cardano are among the subreddits participating in the protest. These communities have played a pivotal role in facilitating discussions and providing information to millions of cryptocurrency investors worldwide.
The controversy arose in April when Reddit announced plans to modify the Reddit Data API, an application that developers had utilized for seven years to create tools and utilities for moderation and other community activities. The proposed changes, which involve the development of native moderator tools by Reddit, have been viewed by many subreddits as a direct infringement on their ability to create and utilize third-party tools crucial for content moderation and community interaction.
While an estimated 3,500 subreddits were expected to become inaccessible during this period, the number could potentially increase if other communities join the revolt. However, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has expressed an understanding of the community’s actions, acknowledging the importance of their efforts to emphasize their needs. He stated, “We respect when you and your communities take action to highlight the things you need, including, at times, going private.”
To address concerns about the use of third-party moderator tools, Reddit has revealed plans to launch mobile moderator tools for Reddit’s iOS and Android apps in the coming months. The introduction of these tools aims to replace the extensive reliance on third-party applications, providing a more streamlined experience for moderators and users.
In a somewhat contrasting development, Reddit has achieved a significant milestone in terms of collectible avatar holders on its platform. Within just a year of launching “Reddit NFTs,” the company has amassed 10 million holders of its collectible avatars. The Reddit collectible avatar marketplace, operating on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon since July 2022, enables independent artists and Redditors to design customizable NFT collections, fostering a vibrant community of digital art enthusiasts on the platform.
As the protest unfolds and the crypto communities continue to voice their concerns, the outcome of the standoff between Reddit and its users remains uncertain. The decisions made by the company in response to the backlash may shape the future of community engagement and moderation on one of the internet’s most influential platforms.