Editor 
In a move that’s stirring quite the digital pot, Reddit has rolled out new policies that effectively stymie the ability of communities to partake in sitewide protests. This comes as a significant policy pivot, especially evident when compared to how Reddit operated during the infamous API pricing protests of last year.
Admin Approval: The New Gatekeeper
One of the standout facets of Reddit’s new policy is the requirement for moderators to obtain prior approval from Reddit administrators before they can change the status of their subreddit. This effectively removes the ability to swiftly turn subreddits from public to private or from safe for work (SFW) to not safe for work (NSFW), which were common protest strategies in the past.
The API Pricing Protests: A Case Study
To put this into context, let’s rewind to the infamous API pricing protests of 2022. Moderators across thousands of subreddits coordinated a blackout by making their pages private. This action was a digital sit-in, a loud and clear outcry against Reddit’s hefty new API fees which impacted third-party applications. The ease of making these changes provided communities a significant lever to express collective discontent and disrupt the platform’s normal operations. It was grassroots democracy at its finest—or worst, depending on whether you ask a user or Reddit’s executive team.
Protecting Reddit: A Delicate Balancing Act
Reddit’s justification for these changes hinges on protecting the platform’s sustainability and user experience. According to Reddit, the ease with which subreddit settings could be altered was akin to giving communities a hammer in a glassware shop. It was prone to misuse, causing ripples that affected the entire platform’s usability and reliability.
By requiring admin approval, Reddit aims to curb the knee-jerk reactions that lead to significant disruptions. The idea is to preserve the expectations of users who come to the platform for community-based information and entertainment without the sudden and unpredictable disruptions caused by large-scale protests.
New Avenues for Protests: The ‘Temporary Events’ Feature
Reddit has not completely shut the door on community protests. Instead, it has introduced a ‘temporary events’ feature that allows communities to limit posts or comments for up to seven days without needing prior approval. This measure seeks to allow a vent for discontent without undermining the platform’s stability. Additionally, smaller or newer communities might find their requests for status changes being auto-approved, providing a nuanced approach to the sweeping new rules.
One might argue that this is akin to giving protestors a megaphone instead of a bulldozer. It allows for voices to be heard, but in a controlled manner that mitigates chaos.
Reaction from the Community
The reaction to these new policies has been predictably spirited. Critics argue that Reddit is clamping down on a vital form of digital protest, effectively silencing its community when it comes to holding the platform accountable. By requiring admin approval, the process becomes bureaucratic, slow, and prone to being overruled by Reddit’s higher-ups.
Supporters, however, see this as a necessary evolution to safeguard long-term user experience and platform reliability. They argue that the previous policy allowed too much room for disruption, which couldn’t be sustained if Reddit plans on maintaining a consistent and reliable service.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Reddit
Reddit’s new policies undoubtedly signify a tectonic shift in how the platform will handle community protests in the future. It’s a balancing act between community empowerment and maintaining platform stability. Whether this will strengthen Reddit’s user base by ensuring a reliable platform or alienate its most active and vocal members remains to be seen.
As the dust settles on these new changes, one thing is clear: Reddit is adamant about setting the rules of engagement on its turf, fitting the old adage—my platform, my rules.
FAQ:
Q1: What changes have Reddit made regarding subreddit status alterations?
Reddit now requires moderators to gain prior approval from administrators before changing a subreddit’s status from public to private or from SFW to NSFW.
Q2: Why has Reddit implemented these new policies?
Reddit claims that the ability to swiftly change subreddit settings was being misused, leading to significant disruptions that threatened the platform’s sustainability and user expectations.
Q3: Are protests still allowed on Reddit?
Yes, protests are still allowed. Reddit has introduced ‘temporary events’ that allow communities to limit posts or comments for up to seven days without needing prior approval.
Q4: How will these new policies affect smaller or newer communities?
Smaller or newer communities might have their requests for status changes automatically granted, providing a balance between oversight and community freedom.
Q5: What was the context behind these changes?
The changes come in the aftermath of the API pricing protests last year, where numerous subreddits went private in response to new charges for third-party applications.
