Thousands of Reddit discussion forums have gone dark this week to protest a new policy that will charge some third-party apps to access data on the site, leading to worries about content moderation and accessibility.

B次元官网网址淩eddit is killing third-party applications (and itself),B次元官网网址� multiple subreddits wrote in posts seen on the platformB次元官网网址檚 homepage this week.

The new fees are part of broader changes to RedditB次元官网网址檚 API, or application programming interface, that the company announced recently.

Organizers of the blackout, which , say RedditB次元官网网址檚 changes threaten to end key ways of historically customizing the platform B次元官网网址� which relies heavily on the work of volunteer moderators. Subreddit B次元官网网址渕odsB次元官网网址� often use tools outside of the official app to keep their forums free of spam and hateful content, for example, as well as improve accessibility.

Nearly 9,000 subreddits went dark this week and more than 4,000 remained dark on Friday, including communities with tens of millions of subscribers like r/music and r/videos B次元官网网址� according to a of the boycott. While some returned to their public settings after 48 hours, others say they will stay private indefinitely, until Reddit meets their demands.

But Reddit, a subsidiary of New York-based Advance Publications, is not changing course. says that supporting high-usage third-party developers to access its data is too expensive. The company also notes that the new fees will only apply to eligible apps that require high usage limits, and the majority of API users will not have to pay for access.

HereB次元官网网址檚 what you need to know.

WHAT IS API? AND HOW IS REDDIT CHANGING ACCESS TO THIRD-PARTY APPS?

In short, an API allows computer programs to communicate with each another. Third parties have used RedditB次元官网网址檚 free API access in the past, for example, to request data and build apps that work with the platform.

But Reddit announced it would be changing its API access polices earlier this year. Starting July 1, Reddit plans to charge third-party apps requiring higher usage limits.

B次元官网网址淩unning a product like reddit is expensive,B次元官网网址� Huffman told The Associated Press, pointing to the millions of dollars Reddit spends on supporting high-usage, third-party apps. B次元官网网址淚 would like to be a self-sustaining company B次元官网网址� it means weB次元官网网址檙e defensibleB次元官网网址�. and it that we can endure into the future. So thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e working towards.B次元官网网址�

Not all third-party apps will be charged, as the policy is based on usage levels, and some noncommercial, accessibility-focused apps can also continue with free access, the company said. Reddit also noted that API access will remain free for moderator tools and bots.

WHY ARE SUBREDDITS PROTESTING THIS CHANGE?

RedditB次元官网网址檚 API changes have caused outrage B次元官网网址� as many Redditors say they are concerned about losing long-used third-party resources. Popular third party apps, including Apollo and Reddit Is Fun, have already announced plans to shut down at the end of the month due to costs of the API changes B次元官网网址� with Apollo developer Christian Selig estimating fees would total about $20 million a year.

RedditB次元官网网址檚 backbone of volunteer moderators who rely on these and similar apps will likely feel the brunt of the impacts, experts note.

B次元官网网址淲hile Reddit has promised that moderation tools will not be affected by changes to the API, many moderators rely on third party apps and access to data archives to effectively do their work,B次元官网网址� Sarah Gilbert, postdoctoral associate at Cornell University and Citizens and Technology Lab research manager, said in a statement B次元官网网址� later pointing to how risks of moderator burnout and essential retention.

Gilbert added that API access helps moderators keep communities safe and B次元官网网址渕ore quickly respond to spam, bigotry, and harassment.B次元官网网址� Third-party apps are also important for screen readers, she said, as the official Reddit app is not accessible for people who are visually impaired.

WHEN WILL THE REDDIT BLACKOUT END?

Some subreddits participating in this weekB次元官网网址檚 blackout returned to Reddit in 48 hours, but others say their protest isnB次元官网网址檛 over.

Numerous subreddits have signaled that they planned to stay private until Reddit meets their demands B次元官网网址� which include lowering the API charges for high usage, third-party developers so that popular apps can stay alive.

But Huffman said he is holding firm. He also said that the subreddits currently participating in the blackout are B次元官网网址渘ot going to stay offline indefinitelyB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� even if that means finding new moderators.

The companyB次元官网网址檚 response to the blackout has fueled further outrage among protest organizers.

B次元官网网址淲e continue to ask reddit to place these changes on pause and explore a real path forward that strikes a balance that is best for the widest range of reddit users,B次元官网网址� read a Thursday night post on subreddit dedicated to moderator coordination.

Beyond Reddit, Twitter ended , in a move that also sparked outrage.

By Wyatte Grantham-philips (), The Associated Press

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