Here's what the internet might be like without Reddit

Here’s what the internet might be like without Reddit

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It’s day two of the Reddit Blackout, as thousands of subreddits protest the company’s decision to skyrocket the price of access to its API, which many popular third-party apps like Apollo rely on to function. These apps are now discounted to the extent that closing is the only option left for them. Their failure has a profound impact on popular Reddit communities as well, since moderators and admins depend on the superior mod tools these apps offer to effectively run their subreddits.

For this very reason, thousands of subreddits, such as r/videos, r/aww er/gaming, went dark over a two-day outcry. Some subreddits have said they may stay private longer, as Reddit’s leadership seems disinclined to change their plans f(opens in a new tab)or the API price increase.

Reddit loyalists who depended on their favorite forums for advice, social connections, and entertainment are getting a sneak peek at a world that exists without it. The blackout also inspired a tongue-in-cheek Twitter meme based on the old stereotype of Redditors as lonely basement dwellers, imagining what happens when they’re suddenly forced to face life outside of Reddit:

But this meme misses out on some of the most important things users are learning about life without Reddit: The site is so much more than a collection of forums for basement dwellers. Think of a trade, a niche interest, or an identity, and there’s probably a subreddit for it. If readers are fascinated by lucid dreaming (r/LucidDreaming(opens in a new tab)) or obsessed with lobsters (r/rarelobsters(opens in a new tab)), Reddit has something for everyone.

Every day, thousands of people turn to Reddit for practical advice and instructions, such as how to uncork a bottle of wine(opens in a new tab) or wearing heels without feeling pain. (opens in a new tab)Some of these visitors are regular Redditors; others may find these posts via a Google search.

Reddit’s role as a repository of irreplaceable advice and documentation is an established fact in some communities. Twitter user @makeavoy, who uses Reddit for coding advice, believes the job has been compromised as a result of the outcry. “The #RedditBlackout is actually hurting my workflow as I rely on Reddit for a lot of coding advice. Don’t take advantage of the devs or they’ll shut down an entire industry,” @makeavoy tweeted(opens in a new tab).

In fact, programming subreddits like r/WebDev er/AskProgramming and many others have gone dark in response to API changes, making it difficult for developers to access.

While Reddit’s leadership thus far seems confident they’ll get through the blackout relatively unscathed, the outcry was effective in doing what the blackout was designed to do: draw attention to the ways the company relies on its users to make it valuable. But the decision to participate in this rally hasn’t been so easy for some communities that cater to users dealing with trauma, alcohol and drug abuse, and mental health issues, precisely because of how vital their presence is. for people involved in these vulnerable situations.

Reddit communities featuring sensitive content related to addiction and mental health have had mixed reactions to the outcry; while many have gone dark in solidarity with other communities, some subreddits where Redditors share their personal trauma(opens in a new tab) to seek help and advice from other users facing similar situations refused to go totally private.

r/CPTSD(opens in a new tab), for example, gave up. They explained why in their blackout announcement:(opens in a new tab) “Many of our members rely on this community for support and resources they are unable to obtain elsewhere. Removing access to this space would be disruptive and potentially dangerous for our users.”

However, not all support communities remained accessible during the blackout. r/Drugs(opens in a new tab)a popular Reddit community that aims to help its users kick drug addiction and withdrawal, has decided to join the blackout to show its stand against the API price hike.

While many popular subreddits have gone dark, not all of the most well-known spaces on Reddit were completely inaccessible this week. r/AmItheAsshole(opens in a new tab) — a popular subreddit community that provides catharsis, emotional support, and solutions for people seeking advice about difficult interpersonal situations — has decided not to go private over the blackout. Instead, they set the subreddit to “restricted” mode, meaning visitors will be able to see the subreddit and its current posts, including an announcement of the mods(opens in a new tab) on the blackout, but will not be able to create new posts.


#Heres #internet #Reddit

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