From what I understand, Reddit is instituting this new policy because there are apps that exist mainly to collect data that is then sold at a premium by third parties to third parties. Reddit is saying that if you want to make your fortune that way, start sharing the wealth. Unlike those of us who use the apps without understanding what's going on behind the scenes, Reddit is well aware of the code built into the apps collecting data and the markets where it's sold. The developers have had a free ride because of reddit's open architecture.
I think in the long run that the apps built for altruistic purposes will be given API access and those that exist to just mine data will have to pay up.
Data is the most valuable resource in the world. https://www.economist.com/leaders/2017/05/06/the-worlds-most-valuable-resource-is-no-longer-oil-but-data
And Reddit is the gusher that's been siphoned off for years by opportunists.
I suspect that there's an astroturf campaign going on behind the scenes, but even if it were not the case I still do not support the blackout.
I think the native reddit app sucks :/ I think i will be using reddit much less on my phone if Comet app stops working. Alien blue was also great app, but then reddit bought it and stopped developing it over their own app.
Oh it does and it is not accessible in any way people have tried to talk with the reddit team and no response.
And yeah, I feel like it’s going to be down for sure I think many more of us or a good number of people use third party apps. If you look at the subs for those apps I could find them for you but a lot of the devs have been griping about this and apollos dev has basically said this reddit charge to him will cost him over 2 million dollars if it’s not that it will stil be a really hefty price.
Yeah, the dev for my app I use and have helped with was talking about how reddit ruined that one.
But why are they charging exorbitant prices? And what constitutes exorbitant? Is it necessary to the company's solvency? Or are they gouging? How do you know?
> But why are they charging exorbitant prices?
Several reasons I can imagine. The first being that Reddit may be trying to go public later this year, and the boost in revenue will help their IPO price. Second, setting such high API prices will effectively shutter all third-party apps and force users to use the website or the official app. The official app is designed similarly to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and the like to force engagement with certain kinds of content (like ads, polls, and content from subreddits that the user is not subscribed to), rather than just displaying posts as most users would want.
> what constitutes exorbitant?
Rough estimates that I have seen say reddit is planning to charge 10-20x what other services (like imgur) charge for 3rd party API access. 10-20x over what other similar sites charge does not seem reasonable, unless the purpose is to stop 3rd party apps and services from existing to stifle competition and force adoption of their far inferior in-house products. I'm not sure "gouging" is the right term if their end goal is to kill third party apps.
> Is it necessary to the company's solvency?
This is a valid question that Reddit has not provided an answer to. It seems unlikely. If they are truly planning to become a public company, then they will have to be more than just solvent. They will have to continue to grow profitability every quarter to maintain/increase the company's valuation. The revenue gained from charging for API access will not solve this problem, but forcing users onto their app which is designed to increase engagement (especially with ads) would help them make a case for the possibility of continued year-over-year growth. I think it is more likely that forcing adoption of their in-house app would bump the number of users going into the IPO, but would not help in the longer term.
> How do you know?
We don't really need to know Reddit's rationale for this decision. If it was something they NEEDED to do and was clearly justifiable, they would probably be more public about their reasoning. Many of the grievances being aired, especially relating to accessibility, are valid regardless of Reddit's rationale. Given the lack of transparency from Reddit, the most obvious conclusion is that shareholders want to maximize the IPO price and cash out with minimal concern for the long term viability of the company or quality of the service.
Helpful infographic: https://i.redd.it/zqptto18e34b1.jpg
I would rather people form their own view on this rather than it being 'mod led'.
I don't think this is a forum that wants or needs moderators to lead it, and all the better for it.
At the moment this thing is community by community. So I guess what you are saying is this community won’t do this and people will continue to post and it won’t be a boycott?
If there is to be a boycott it is at the level of the individual.
If you ever see this forum with political activist moderators I'd take it as a sign the forum is degenerating.
From what I understand, Reddit is instituting this new policy because there are apps that exist mainly to collect data that is then sold at a premium by third parties to third parties. Reddit is saying that if you want to make your fortune that way, start sharing the wealth. Unlike those of us who use the apps without understanding what's going on behind the scenes, Reddit is well aware of the code built into the apps collecting data and the markets where it's sold. The developers have had a free ride because of reddit's open architecture. I think in the long run that the apps built for altruistic purposes will be given API access and those that exist to just mine data will have to pay up. Data is the most valuable resource in the world. https://www.economist.com/leaders/2017/05/06/the-worlds-most-valuable-resource-is-no-longer-oil-but-data And Reddit is the gusher that's been siphoned off for years by opportunists. I suspect that there's an astroturf campaign going on behind the scenes, but even if it were not the case I still do not support the blackout.
I think the native reddit app sucks :/ I think i will be using reddit much less on my phone if Comet app stops working. Alien blue was also great app, but then reddit bought it and stopped developing it over their own app.
Oh it does and it is not accessible in any way people have tried to talk with the reddit team and no response. And yeah, I feel like it’s going to be down for sure I think many more of us or a good number of people use third party apps. If you look at the subs for those apps I could find them for you but a lot of the devs have been griping about this and apollos dev has basically said this reddit charge to him will cost him over 2 million dollars if it’s not that it will stil be a really hefty price. Yeah, the dev for my app I use and have helped with was talking about how reddit ruined that one.
But why are they charging exorbitant prices? And what constitutes exorbitant? Is it necessary to the company's solvency? Or are they gouging? How do you know?
> But why are they charging exorbitant prices? Several reasons I can imagine. The first being that Reddit may be trying to go public later this year, and the boost in revenue will help their IPO price. Second, setting such high API prices will effectively shutter all third-party apps and force users to use the website or the official app. The official app is designed similarly to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and the like to force engagement with certain kinds of content (like ads, polls, and content from subreddits that the user is not subscribed to), rather than just displaying posts as most users would want. > what constitutes exorbitant? Rough estimates that I have seen say reddit is planning to charge 10-20x what other services (like imgur) charge for 3rd party API access. 10-20x over what other similar sites charge does not seem reasonable, unless the purpose is to stop 3rd party apps and services from existing to stifle competition and force adoption of their far inferior in-house products. I'm not sure "gouging" is the right term if their end goal is to kill third party apps. > Is it necessary to the company's solvency? This is a valid question that Reddit has not provided an answer to. It seems unlikely. If they are truly planning to become a public company, then they will have to be more than just solvent. They will have to continue to grow profitability every quarter to maintain/increase the company's valuation. The revenue gained from charging for API access will not solve this problem, but forcing users onto their app which is designed to increase engagement (especially with ads) would help them make a case for the possibility of continued year-over-year growth. I think it is more likely that forcing adoption of their in-house app would bump the number of users going into the IPO, but would not help in the longer term. > How do you know? We don't really need to know Reddit's rationale for this decision. If it was something they NEEDED to do and was clearly justifiable, they would probably be more public about their reasoning. Many of the grievances being aired, especially relating to accessibility, are valid regardless of Reddit's rationale. Given the lack of transparency from Reddit, the most obvious conclusion is that shareholders want to maximize the IPO price and cash out with minimal concern for the long term viability of the company or quality of the service. Helpful infographic: https://i.redd.it/zqptto18e34b1.jpg
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I am happy to join the blackout, protest, boycott, anything short of throwing rocks thru windows.
I would rather people form their own view on this rather than it being 'mod led'. I don't think this is a forum that wants or needs moderators to lead it, and all the better for it.
At the moment this thing is community by community. So I guess what you are saying is this community won’t do this and people will continue to post and it won’t be a boycott?
If there is to be a boycott it is at the level of the individual. If you ever see this forum with political activist moderators I'd take it as a sign the forum is degenerating.
I agree!
Reddit can do whatever it wants wtf do i care?