Reddit has recently gained control over subreddits that were temporarily shut down to protest changes made to the platform’s API. One such subreddit, r/malefashionadvice, which has over 5.4 million subscribers, is now under the sole administration of the u/ModCodeofConduct account.
In mid-June, the subreddit decided to close its doors temporarily as a means of opposing certain actions taken by Reddit. As a show of solidarity, other subreddits also allowed users to shut down temporarily in protest.
The Reddit API was used by third-party developers to create numerous apps that integrated with the platform. Many of these apps were designed to assist with moderation and accessibility. However, Reddit made the decision to start charging for the API, which was previously available for free. As a result, developers of popular apps were forced to discontinue their services. Additionally, a transcription community also closed down as a result of this change.
According to third-party data, Reddit experienced a decline in traffic following the start of the protests. The company issued a warning to moderators who kept their subreddits private or in read-only mode, stating that it would replace them.
One former moderator of r/malefashionadvice revealed that Reddit removed their privileges as expected on Thursday. In response, u/ModCodeofConduct called for volunteers to take over the subreddit. Similar messages were posted by the admin account on other subreddits where it is the only current moderator, including ones with subscribers numbering over 925,000 and 1.7 million respectively.
A representative from Reddit clarified that the enforcement of the moderator Code of Conduct is not a new development in response to the protests. According to the guidelines, Reddit considers a public community that has been indefinitely made private as “abandoned” and actively seeks new moderators to revitalize it. The spokesperson also mentioned that the practice of reactivating private communities with high subscriber counts is common for the platform.
Meanwhile, Reddit has revived the communal art project, r/place, which allows each user to place a single pixel on a large mosaic every few minutes. Predictably, redditors have used this opportunity to criticize the company and its CEO Steve Huffman (u/spez). The mosaic features a message that encourages viewers to remember what they have lost and directs them to the Save3rdPartyApps community on Reddit.
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Deepak Sen is a tech enthusiast who covers the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets. His articles provide readers with a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of technology.
