Reddit Blackout Sees Majority of Site Offline

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183 posts

Master Geek
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#3089946 14-Jun-2023 11:00

I haven't been on Reddit during the blackout to maximise the impact, but it appears non-blacked out Reddit subs are being used to discuss and coordinate the blackout? I guess next steps are to go live and engage and decide whether to go further.

Louis Rossman posted a YouTube video supporting the reason behind the blackout but critical of the 2 day planned duration - suggesting it would be interpreted as having no determination as people couldn't stand to be away longer. It would potentially have been more difficult to get everyone on board if it were initially planned as 'everyone leave and don't come back until this changes, or never come back if it doesn't change'.

zespri

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Ultimate Geek
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#3089976 14-Jun-2023 12:39

michaelmurfy:

And yes, I fully support this.

Do you think it realistically can make an impact? I do not think so...

Canuckabroad

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Master Geek
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#3089980 14-Jun-2023 13:15

Can it - yes. As was previously brought up a user revolt previously brought down the then-CEO. The unknown question is whether either the legions of active Reddit users will rather leave the site rather than switch to the native app, and/or whether the moderators will be willing to keep the site dark until there is change. Reddit's model depends on both volunteer moderators and users - and if the mods stick to their guns and won't accept the proposal in sufficient quantity then the site will quickly derail. Of course the admins can remove the mods - but the mods do a massive amount of work keeping the site as something users are willing to visit and participate in without spam and personal attacks and doxxing etc. Without mods and users both willing to accept whatever proposal Reddit puts forward to address these concerns - the site will fail. If however the mods and users aren't willing to leave and stay away, then this may not have much impact.

virgingrandma

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Wannabe Geek
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#3089984 14-Jun-2023 13:24

richms:

IMO it's a whole lot of entitled people wanting to keep accessing someone else's platform for free having a bit of a fit.

I disagree, reddit could provide an api that serves their adverts but do not. They could have more reasonable pricing, but do not.

All of the content on the site is user generated and user moderated... so it feels almost as if reddit are perhaps doing the same thing.

Personally, I'm mostly annoyed because reddit sync on my phone is leagues better than any other way to get at the site. The app is just awful.

Silvrav

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#3089999 14-Jun-2023 14:29

Some are indefinite, but would be interesting to see how long this last. TBH i dont think Reddit gives 2 shits

scuwp

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#3090070 14-Jun-2023 17:33

I didn't know other apps existed until this all flared up. Honestly, its been a much more peaceful and harmonious place since, I like it.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

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Canuckabroad

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Master Geek
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#3090094 14-Jun-2023 18:42

The Verge https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/13/23759559/reddit-internal-memo-api-pricing-changes-steve-huffman has posted a memo sent by the Reddit CEO saying they don't intend to budge on the subject, it's not having much impact, and they are confident the users will back down and everything will go back to normal on Wednesday (US time).

There's now a difficult decision being faced by the users and moderators at the site - whether they give up and accept the changes - or whether they shutter their forums indefinitely (or until Reddit changes their view).

toejam316

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#3090096 14-Jun-2023 18:52

I can see the shutdown continuing and site admins forcefully replacing moderation teams.
I suspect that this is gonna be a turning point just like Tumblr, digg, and others before have undergone.

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loceff13

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#3090101 14-Jun-2023 19:20

Reddit was already well on it's way to it's userbase being frustrated and moving elsewhere when the opportunity arises like with Digg v3/v4.

At this time theres no real competition so they are free to do what they want until theres a site good enough

MaxineN

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#3090106 14-Jun-2023 19:40

michaelmurfy:

Some subreddits are planning to keep it going based on the fact somebody at Reddit quoted "this has not affected revenue": https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/148ks6u/indefinite_blackout_next_steps_polling_your/

And yes, I fully support this.

I have a bit of an interesting perspective as I used to moderate a fairly large sub-reddit and have dealt with the admins/execs in the past.

Quite frankly some of them are good souls but are bound to execs and higher management and they do not care and they do not and will not back down to pressure so easily until their hand is forced.

I wish they listened when our sub-reddit warned them about the raids and the issues we had, I wish they had listened to the criticism we gave but they don't.

I think going fully dark indefinite is going to hurt at some point but will they care? Doubting.

I do support going fully dark and protesting.

toejam316: I can see the shutdown continuing and site admins forcefully replacing moderation teams.
I suspect that this is gonna be a turning point just like Tumblr, digg, and others before have undergone.

They have threatened this upon certain subs in the past. They have actioned this as well.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

networkn

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#3090148 14-Jun-2023 22:40

Handle9:

The CEOs "AMA" was a farce. Of course none of the actual questions got answered and shill account questions did.

If he had the integrity to say "we are going to IPO and want to kill third party apps to maximise our valuation" at least he would have been telling the truth.

Name once in the history of the world where a CEO said something like that.

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networkn

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#3090150 14-Jun-2023 22:45

A 2-day blackout is as useless as not buying petrol from 'insert oil company name here' for 2-3 days.

Eventually, you'll need fuel, and they have deeper pockets than you, they know it's going to end shortly, and it won't matter one bit in the long term. It's still cheaper to keep acting immorally because the price they pay for that isn't a rounding error on the profits they make doing it.

If people really wanted to 'punish' reddit they would need to do a hell of a lot longer than 2 days. 4 weeks might be worth considering.

I think the fees are crazy, but it's their platform, and if they are losing money due to advertising revenue, they are entitled to take steps to recoup it.

The protests will amount to much the same gnashing of teeth as the Netflix changes recently.

Handle9

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#3090151 14-Jun-2023 22:49

networkn:

Handle9:

The CEOs "AMA" was a farce. Of course none of the actual questions got answered and shill account questions did.

If he had the integrity to say "we are going to IPO and want to kill third party apps to maximise our valuation" at least he would have been telling the truth.

Name once in the history of the world where a CEO said something like that.

CEOs talk openly about maximising their companies profitability all the time.

If you are going to do an AMA do a real AMA otherwise just issue a press release and move on.

Zeon

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#3090206 15-Jun-2023 09:41

I noticed it yesterday - practically every subreddit I tried to go to (was looking for technical information) in dark mode. It's having an effect but probably needs to be longer.

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networkn

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#3090208 15-Jun-2023 09:46

Handle9:

CEOs talk openly about maximising their companies profitability all the time.

If you are going to do an AMA do a real AMA otherwise just issue a press release and move on.

Agree on the AMA, dumb move. I'd consider it shows him fundamentally the wrong person to be CEO if he doesn't understand how a fundamental function of his platform is supposed to operate.

CEO's talk about maximising profits all the time, agreed. How often do you see a CEO come out and say 'our recent change to pricing is directly related to wanting to make more money", or, "We are IPO'ing or preparing for acquisition and want to make the books look good, we are increasing our prices for that purpose"

I'd say next to never.

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