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Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

theverge.com

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Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#21

Post by prepend »

This is interesting. I wonder if this is future hope for accessibility and will be legislated by the Americans with Disability Act.

There’s already a portion called “section 508” [0] that requires software and web sites to be accessible, but it only applies to federal procurement.

An extension could be that apis are required for accessibility and that they apply to all businesses over a certain size.

While Section508 is designed for people with disabilities they affect all users since what helps screen readers also helps screen scrapers, etc. etc

[0] https://www.section508.gov/manage/laws-and-policies/

Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#22

Post by Daedren »

giuliomagnifico wrote: post #2

Nice. Maybe the general mobilization worked? Looks like a workaround to say "hey the well done apps -like Apollo- can still be used", or I have interpreted this announcement wrong?

The whole point of putting a price on the API -is- to kill Apollo and other standard third-party apps to get people on the official app full of ads.

Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#23

Post by SilverBirch »

Reddit really is desperate for this IPO isn't it. This pricing decision is a total debacle. They're clearly going to try and tell a story about how their data set is massively valuable for AI (it isn't) and that they've got it under lock and key (it's already been crawled by every major player in AI) so that they can get a totally unrealistic valuation at IPO. It makes sense, imagine how incredible it would be if you could get an Nvidia level multiple at IPO. Unfortunately in the process they're killing the actual product. They're trying to backtrack to try and paper over this but you really can't get past the fact that what they're doing is deliberately attacking their own users and community. So they're trying to go "err uhh well, if you're exclusively using the API for accessbility and not making any money"... alright, we'll let you fix our broken shitty site but only if you take a vow of poverty. The correct answer from any developer to this should be clear "Fuck you pay me.". The relationship between Reddit and it's community is very delicate, so it seems pretty silly for Reddit to decide to crash it into a wall shortly before their IPO. They might get the IPO pop they want - I doubt it, they're smashing the long term viability of the company.

Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#24

Post by prepend »

treme wrote: post #16
edandersen wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why doesn't Reddit just disable the ability to "go dark"?

because they depend on free labors of people that are going dark for their business to function

I think Reddit will actually still run for quite a while without moderators as most egregious spam is caught by auto moderator rules (although set up by moderators).

I moderate a few subs and rarely do things manually.

So short term strikes won’t have much impact other than degraded quality.

Also, there’s already a process for “abandoned” subs where if subs aren’t moderated users can request mod access. So if mods go on strike, new users could request mod access.

For some of the larger subs I think this would actually be healthy as there are lots of subs with toxic mods but there is no way to oust them unless they choose to leave.

Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#25

Post by blacklight »

Well I honestly don't care. The moment a service puts a paywalls around the API used to pull their public data they're already dead to me. No matter how many acts they decide to embark on to wash their dirty conscience.

If your service doesn't expose your data using an API or an open feed, then your service has already become irrelevant, period.

Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#26

Post by blender13 »

It appears that this is just the Verge helping Reddit push PR because they (the Verge) did not bother contacting r/blind for information or the developers of the apps that they listed. It also appears that Reddit hasn’t done the same either.

===

Regarding the [June 7 article on The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/7/23752804/reddit-exempt-acc...), r/blind was not contacted for comment on the new development.

We have not had clarification on Reddit's definitions of "accessibility focused apps" or any process to determine apps that qualify.

There is no clarification on "non-comercial apps," given the current model of the apps listed by The Verge.

We have strong concerns that Reddit lacks expertise to consider the varying access needs of the blind and visually impaired community.

We have reached out Reddit for further comment.

We would also like to note that r/blind, u/rumster in particular, have continuously contacted Reddit over accessibility concerns, over the past 3 years, having received no substantive response.

r/blind

===

https://old.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13zr8h2/_/jnbkjed

===

As added support, while the article mentions Luna, I would like to contribute that I have not been ccontacted in any way by Reddit whether that is in regards to this article, or the changes as a whole.

===

https://old.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13zr8h2/_/jncxom1

Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#28

Post by yardstick »

Stupid question but I’m out of the loop here. What’s the main beef with the Reddit site and app? Is it just accessibility and moderation tools or something else?

I do use RES in desktop, but I mostly use it via the official mobile app these days. I used to miss old.Reddit.com but now I’m rather indifferent.

Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#29

Post by ryanmercer »

yardstick wrote: post #28

Stupid question but I’m out of the loop here. What’s the main beef with the Reddit site and app? Is it just accessibility and moderation tools or something else? I do use RES in desktop, but I mostly use it via the official mobile app these days. I used to miss old.Reddit.com but now I’m rather indifferent.

As a long time user, and moderator, I do everything via old.reddit (and the only additional thing is mod toolbox, which I could live without) on a proper computer. I just can't fathom any meaningful use of Reddit via a phone app. To me that's as insane as trying to read a novel on your phone or watch a movie.

Simply does not compute to me.

Re: Reddit will exempt accessibility-focused apps from unpopular API pricing changes

#30

Post by drumhead »

There is no other site more dependant on its users for its success than Reddit. There is no other site with more militant users that Reddit. If they want to they can and will cause havoc. Do you want to invest in something with such a volatile and uncontrollable workforce? The Reddit management know how this will end, not well.
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