A mass user protest six months ago over technical tweaks had big downstream effects, and now the ‘front page of the internet’ is changed for ever
In June, numerous Reddit communities went dark, rendering their pages inaccessible in a widespread protest against corporate policy changes. While users criticizing social networks is common, Reddit’s moderators staged an unprecedented rebellion. Six months on, users and researchers observe that reforms initiated by the movement continue to send ripples through the self-proclaimed “front page of the internet.
Opinions on the alterations vary. While some argue that the quality of posts on the forum site has shifted, others note that the corporate parent of the social network seems more responsive, implementing changes long advocated by both users and moderators. The clash with the company has left Reddit’s community feeling angered and doubtful, yet many express a commitment to staying and observing how the platform adapts to its new state.
In response to inquiries about the protest and participants’ demands, a Reddit spokesperson emphasized a statement from the company’s CEO, Steve Huffman, who remarked, “We are all responsible for ensuring Reddit provides an open, accessible place for people to find community and belonging.”
Acknowledging users and communities taking action, Huffman added, “We respect when you and your communities take action to highlight the things you need, including, at times, going private.”
The protest originated from Reddit’s decision mid-year to charge for access to its application programming interface (API), hindering external entities and users from utilizing the social network’s data for their products and services. This move sparked outrage among Reddit’s unpaid content moderators, many of whom relied on such tools to manage the site effectively.
In response, over 8,000 subreddits, encompassing hundreds of millions of subscribers, collectively went offline for days. Some major sections of the site went dark or transformed into absurd, unusable parodies featuring only images of John Oliver. The extensive reaction underscored Reddit’s passionate user base, determined to protect a platform known for its robust ethos—a space often described as “one of the last good social media sites,” where content sharing and moderation are democratized.
RamsesThePigeon, a Reddit user for over 12 years and a long-time moderator, highlighted that participants in the protest had diverse reasons, varying across users and subreddits, but predominantly centered on content moderation. As a volunteer moderator for several of Reddit’s largest communities, he opts to be quoted by his username to maintain the anonymous nature of his role. The unilateral decision by Reddit was perceived by many as a disheartening gesture towards volunteers dedicating hours of unpaid labor to uphold the site. According to RamsesThePigeon, the protest served to raise awareness among average users about this aspect of moderation work.
We recognize the challenging work of moderators, and we maintain regular communication with them to address their needs and gather direct feedback, contributing to ongoing improvements on Reddit,” he expressed.
Several prominent Reddit add-ons quickly ceased operations following the changes. Apollo, boasting over 1 million monthly users, criticized the company’s actions in a Reddit post, stating, “If they wanted something that could work for everyone, they would have simply made an effort to listen, instead of being dishonest, callous, and punitive in pricing.” Rathschmidt mentioned that Reddit had established agreements with third-party browsers like Luna, Dystopia, and Redreader, with ongoing discussions with others.
In response to concerns that the discontinuation of certain third-party browsing platforms adversely affected users with disabilities, including the visually impaired, Reddit conducted an accessibility audit through an external consultant. Rathschmidt noted the company’s efforts to enhance site and app accessibility, including the creation of an accessibility feedback group. He stated that Reddit was on schedule to achieve full compliance with the World Wide Web Consortium’s accessibility guidelines by the end of 2024.
