Reddit CEO (/u/spez) is going to hold a AMA about the API update
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Reddit - Dive into anything
https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/144ho2x/join_our_ceo_tomorrow_to_discuss_the_api/
https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/144ho2x/join_our_ceo_tomorrow_to_discuss_the_api/
Unless they announce they're going to undo the pricing changes completely, I don't see myself using reddit anymore.
@xevizero @thomas my fear is that they do and people go back to using Reddit. It’s too late I’m done with them.
I don't think that's likely to happen. Based on the AMA announcement, I'm guessing that - at most - there will be a few (temporary) concessions made to moderators and some (empty) promises to work on accessibility.
If history tells us anything, they don't even have to actually do it. Just say they'll do it and it'll never come up again.
0% chance they go back to a free API. Maybe, just maybe they end up scaling back API pricing for third-party apps to something reasonable that would grant them the same revenue per user that they would get from the first-party app.
The other piece of this is that the API is also used to train AI on Reddit's data. For that application, given the colossal amount of venture capital going into AI right now, their API pricing isn't all that absurd. If Reddit were reasonable they would offer different pricing depending on what the API is going to be used for--but, then again, it's Reddit, so personally I'm throwing in my lot with FOSS.
the same revenue per user that they would get from the first-party app
Not a chance. They are going to charge significantly more than that. Probably 10x that amount and tell us they "listened".
Still I'm here as well. Now let's watch that place burn together I guess.
I wonder if the downvotes will equal that of the EA Battlefront discussion. That was legendary.
Oh wow Spez is still CEO? I thought he resigned after he edited that user's comment without permission or whatever. Really kept a low profile since.
Yep. And, as it turned out, lots of folks* thought that was a funny thing and loved it. This is the guy who GG'd himself into the CEO position.
I always felt that part of the allure of Reddit was that it was semi-anonymous. Now that I see they're taking the route of Facebook and the like I'm running for the door.
Great idea to hold an AMA right now, will turn out great 😂 What a shit show from Reddit handling the API changes.
It truly was a dumpster fire. A part of me did wish he would backtrack but he just doubled down.
It's telling that they're not even willing to work with the third-party Reddit apps. They could be true money makers for Reddit, or at the least, a way to minimize Reddit's losses.
Also, doubling down and deciding that the subreddits that will be going dark in protest mean nothing. He's said as much in the past that the moderators are expendable, though, so it would not be a surprise if Reddit administration or spez personally decides to usurp those mod teams.
so it would not be a surprise if Reddit administration or spez personally decides to usurp those mod teams.
There was some comment about "we'll do whatever's necessary to keep reddit online" so I think the implication there is that if high-traffic subs went dark for an extended period then he'd evict the mods and replace them with his yes men.
Personally I think the subs should go dark for 3 days each & every month. You can still run a successful community with those restrictions but it's a pretty visible signal to investors that hey your userbase hates you and is itching for the opportunity to leave your sorry ass.
They do that, and it'll be a madhouse. They don't have teams of mods setup, that's all free at the moment.
I'm not sure I even care what he says at this point. The damage is done, his hand has been played, and we all know the type of person(s) he / they are and their end goal. Good riddance. I truly hope everyone comes this way, I can't lie, Reddit was my go-to for information that I could rely on and get honest feedback from the "public at large". The more I think about this the more I realize just how useful it was as a tool as much as it was for conversation.
It's gone pretty much as you'd expect:
#1 doubling down on everything and saying "I'm sorry that you were upset about this"
#2 ignoring the untrue allegations he made about the convo with a 3rd party developer and calling him out for having recorded the convo instead