Reddit finally takes its API war where it belongs: to AI companies

Article note: Reddit's whole proposition is hosting communities without the hassle of setting up infrastructure and joining separate communities. They in turn get to capture value by selling access to those communities as much as they can without interfering with their function. The draw to new users is that it is where the user-created content that isn't _completely_ overrun by corpo bullshit and SEO spam is. Breaking discoverability and indexing (this) is an even larger violation of that arrangement than breaking clients and management tools (last dumb) as a way to try to squeeze extra value. Stop worrying that someone else might make a dime off the content you host and start worrying that people might stop letting you rentseek off of it for only the cost of web hosting.

Enlarge (credit: Getty)

Reddit ignited a war this year. Dramatic changes in API access pricing (from free to unaffordable) was one of its most polarizing moves ever. It resulted in apps beloved by long-time Reddit users, including moderators and people with accessibility needs, closing shop. Community trust was sacrificed, too. Disgusted with Reddit for how it handled third-party apps, abruptly ushered in pricing changes, and treated moderators who protested, numerous valuable, knowledgeable users quit the platform.

Originally, Reddit framed its API pricing changes as a way to prevent generative AI companies from using Reddit data to train large language models (LLMs) without Reddit getting anything in return. With Reddit no longer dealing with small third-party developers—all of which are now either paying Reddit or getting some sort of exemption—Reddit is reportedly taking the fight to where it should have been focused the entire time: generative AI firms.

Can Reddit survive without search?

On Friday, The Washington Post, as spotted by The Verge, said Reddit "has met with top generative AI companies about being paid for its data," citing an anonymous source.