Reddit moderators have protested the upcoming API changes that threaten other popular Reddit-side apps. Some of these applications are used by users who have visual impairments or who generally find Reddit’s base app difficult to navigate or lack customization options. Others use third-party apps to filter out spam or enable features not available in the Reddit app. Reddit’s suspension resulted in many pages becoming “private” or unviewable by people who weren’t “members” of the subreddit.
The blackout has now ended for many subreddits, possibly because Reddit threatened to oust their moderators, but some moderators have chosen to fight dirty to make their voices heard.
r/MildlyInteresting, a subreddit with over 11 million members, and a group of other subreddits have decided to scrap most of their rules, including lifting the “No NSFW” content ban.
This should illustrate the important work that moderators are doing in a direct form of protest by making their subreddits unavailable to advertisers.
Reddit’s answer
Reddit didn’t like this protest and removed the moderators of participating subreddits, including r/MildlyInteresting, r/interestingasfuck, and r/TIHI. The mods found that their accounts were banned for seven days, but most of them were later restored. When The Verge questioned Reddit spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt about the moderators’ access being revoked, he replied, “I will not set a precedent by certifying to The Verge all actions we take, or fail to take, to ensure users are able to access their communities.” .”
This is just the latest in hand gestures and finger pointing from Reddit management.
CEO Steve Huffman said in a recent interview with The Verge, “Over 90 percent of Reddit users are on our platform, contributing, and monetized through either ads or Reddit Premium.” Why should we subsidize this small group? Why should we effectively pay them to use Reddit but not everyone else who also contributes to Reddit?”
In fact, he nails a good point: why doesn’t Reddit pay its contributors?
YouTubers, TikTokers, and influencers generally make more money from merch and sponsorships than from the actual advertising in their content. However, many still receive financial compensation. The closest thing Reddit has to a form of payment is its rewards system, where people can buy awards, which they can then give to users whose posts they like.
So why not give the advertising money to the posters and moderators?
Because it’s a distraction. Huffman tries to turn Reddit users against the moderators by accusing them of greed. However, the truth is that Reddit is built on the free labor of its users and moderators.
problems with this protest
Redditors using NSFW content to fight back (and amusingly so) could also have long-term consequences for the app. Reddit NSFW communities have had issues with third-party apps like IMGUR not wanting to host NSFW content anymore. If Reddit decides to retire Tumblr and ban NSFW content entirely in the app, it could spell disaster for hundreds of subreddits and communities.
Others have also pointed out the problems in moving from SFW communities to NSFW. Suddenly people who thought they were in a safe place may feel uncomfortable or potentially triggered depending on how graphic the content is. While the moderators set out rules that “properly label content (is it NSFW or not?)” and made it clear that there would be “no underage sexual content” and “no illegal content,” the continued need for moderators proves how consistent Users will ignore this rules.
The future
Still, it’s an unprecedented move for Reddit to remove moderators’ access to their forums, especially since some smaller subreddits’ mods have still not been restored. The r/MildlyInteresting post pointed out the hypocrisy, like “[Steve Huffman] says the protest was ineffective, and says days later that the Reddit moderators are too powerful and are changing the site’s rules to weaken them. Now admins are trying to undermine moderators to reopen subreddits.”
It’s hard to say what actions Reddit moderators may/will take next. Many users felt that the initial blackout was a failure from the start as they stated it would only last for two days. Reddit has nothing to worry about if the protest doesn’t last longer than the weekend.
I guess next time it just has to be a lot longer.
(via The Verge, Image: Marvel/Disney)
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