Reddit is taking control of large subreddits that are still protesting its API changes
Reddit is serious about ending the blackout API protests that have kneecapped the platform since last month.
Most subreddits have since reopened amid threats from the company to remove protesting communities’ mods. But, some have continued to stay private, locking visitors out and blocking users from posting. And Reddit is making good on those threats.
Reddit has just booted the moderators at r/malefashionadvice for refusing to reopen the subreddit, reports The Verge, which spoke to the now-former mods. With more than 5 million members, r/malefashionadvice appears to be the largest subreddit that the company has taken control of as a result of the API blackout protests. The protests were originally slated to last for two days, but have continued on at some subreddits for weeks.
The only mod at r/malefashionadvicenow is “modcodeofconduct,” a Reddit account run by the company and used to facilitate the transfer of subreddit moderator privileges.
The account is also listed as the mod on a number of subreddits, which gives a peak into other communities that the company has taken control of from its previous moderators. r/homeautomation and r/ShittyLifeProTips, with more than two million and over one and a half million members respectively, are two other large subreddits now controlled by Reddit. The modcodeofconduct account currently controls 11 subreddits of varying size. However, over the past week, the account has posted in 14 different subreddits looking for new mods for each community, meaning that some of these communities have since reopened with new moderators.
There are still a few large subreddits in restricted-mode as part of the API protests, according to Reddark. Its unclear how much longer the mod teams in charge of those communities will remain in their positions as Reddit cracks down.
But, just because the original blackout protests are being shut down, that doesn’t mean that Redditors are done voicing their displeasure with the company. For example, according to Reddark, members of r/aww and r/pics, two subreddits with more than 30 million users each, continue with a new protest action: Filling up the subreddits with solely posts of photos of comedian John Oliver. Other Redditors have taken their protest message to the relaunched open pixel art canvas at r/Place.
These Reddit protests are in response to recent decisions made by the company, led by its CEO Steve Huffman. The focus of the protest is Reddit’s new paid API plans, which priced-out many popular third-party apps, forcing them to shut down.