TL;DR
After 2023 API changes removed popular third-party apps, Reddit lost many longtime power users and moderators, leaving more low-effort posts and bot activity. Since the IPO, the company has prioritized engagement metrics and data deals over community depth, while moderation remains volunteer-driven.
What happened
In 2023 Reddit cut off third-party apps, driving away widely used clients such as Apollo and RIF and with them many power users who moderated, answered questions in depth, and curated niche communities. The move is described in the source as motivated by a desire for greater control over the user experience rather than purely cost concerns. After going public, Reddit shifted priorities to metrics that appeal to investors: content that produces outrage, repetitive or easily engaging questions, controversial hot takes, and rage bait. The result, according to the source, is a homogenized feed across subreddits and a proliferation of low-effort screenshots, recycled comments, and “AI told me this” posts. Bot activity is presented as significant — with conservative estimates of 10–15% platformwide and over 30% in some subreddits — while Reddit reports $800M+ in annual revenue. Moderation remains unpaid, and the company has been accused of threatening moderators who protested API changes. A timeline in the source links the API changes (2023) to a 2024 $60M/year deal with Google for AI training data and a 2024 IPO valuing Reddit at $6.4B.
Why it matters
- Loss of experienced volunteer moderators and subject-matter contributors diminishes the quality and reliability of many communities.
- Algorithmic incentives that prioritize outrage and repeat engagement can reduce the depth and diversity of discussion.
- High bot activity can distort metrics, influence recommendations, and amplify disinformation or commercial manipulation.
- User contributions are being leveraged in data deals and AI training, raising questions about who benefits financially from community labor.
Key facts
- Reddit ended support for many third-party apps in 2023, including Apollo and RIF.
- The source characterizes the API changes as aimed at controlling the user experience rather than reducing costs.
- A 2024 deal with Google for AI training data is described as worth $60M per year in the source.
- Reddit completed an IPO in 2024 at a reported $6.4 billion valuation.
- The source gives conservative bot-activity estimates of 10–15% platformwide and claims 30%+ in some subreddits.
- The company reports $800M+ in annual revenue while moderation is handled by unpaid volunteers.
- The source alleges Reddit threatened moderators who protested the API changes.
- Reddit's internal search has been poor for over 15 years, and the source suggests it may be intentionally neglected to preserve referral traffic.
What to watch next
- Whether users and communities begin migrating to alternatives such as Discord, Lemmy instances, niche forums, or Mastodon, overcoming the collective-action problem described in the source.
- Whether Reddit revises its API policy or allows third-party clients to return (not confirmed in the source).
- How Reddit addresses bot activity and account-farming tied to political or commercial manipulation (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether younger users or new generations shift toward AI assistants in place of community platforms (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- API: Application Programming Interface — a set of rules that lets external apps interact with a platform’s data and features.
- IPO: Initial Public Offering — the first sale of a company’s shares to public investors, which can shift business priorities toward shareholder metrics.
- Bot: An automated or semi-automated account used to post, repost, or interact at scale; can be used for benign tasks or for manipulation.
- Moderator: A community volunteer who enforces rules, curates content, and manages user behavior within a forum or subreddit.
- Referral traffic: Visitors who arrive at a site via links from other sites or search results, which can be tracked and monetized.
Reader FAQ
Did Reddit remove third-party apps?
Yes — the source says Reddit cut off many third-party clients in 2023, including Apollo and RIF.
Are moderators paid by Reddit?
No — the source describes moderation as volunteer work while Reddit generates revenue.
Is bot activity a serious problem on Reddit?
According to the source, bot activity is significant, with conservative estimates of 10–15% platformwide and over 30% in some subreddits.
Is Reddit deliberately keeping search broken?
The source presents a theory that search is kept poor to preserve referral traffic for data deals, but that claim is not confirmed in the source.
Will Reddit recover its former community quality?
Not confirmed in the source.
The API Apocalypse When Reddit killed third-party apps in 2023, they didn't just lose Apollo and RIF — they lost the power users who actually made the platform worth visiting….
Sources
- Reddit Has Become the Internet's Strip Mall
- Reddit downplays risks of developer backlash …
- Breaking Down The Reddit IPO
- How Reddit's API Changes May Undermine Third-Party …
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