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Reddit Doubles Down

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131–140 of 462 posts

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#131
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would they?

An absolute ton of search results can't be viewed right now because subreddits are locked down.

That might be better for Google. Now, when I google for reviews or brand recommendations, I won't get reddit anymore. Could reddit be biased? Absolutely. Is the entire first page of google full of bias, ads, and outright lies? Absolutely. But those ads pay Google; Reddit doesn't.

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#132
All they had to do was make API access require Premium. $4/month and all the pieces were laying there. Thats twice as much monthly profit as their current super inflated API pricing would bring them for the same users.

Reddit made themselves a real mess here and it's all SO stupid.

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#133

> A number of Snoos have been working around the clock, adapting to infrastructure strains, engaging with communities, and responding to the myriad of issues related to this blackout I find a CEO referring to their employees as 'Snoos' to be offputting personally. I'm sure it's meant to be a fun and inclusive term but the guy is sending out a pretty serious email that ends in, "I am sorry to say this, but please be m…

Lots of tech companies have silly names for their employees, I think it might have originated with “Googlers” but some companies (like Reddit) went a little further. (“Snoo” is also the name of the little Reddit alien mascot.)

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#134
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or they're broke and reddit is soon to be bankrupt. But even so, if they had just said that, the outcome would be so much different. Because as of now it seems like they're fucking people over for the sake of fucking them over.

Neither the cost of allowing these apps or the revenue the charge would produce could possibly matter.

I'm not so sure - I assume the hyper-valuable users are actually generally using 3rd party apps, so forcing them back on the platform could raise their CPI enough to look good at an IPO rather than terrible.

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#135
post #52

Original report is available on the verge[1], which contains the full message sent by reddit CEO. 1: https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/13/23759559/reddit-internal-...

"I am sorry to say this, but please be mindful of wearing Reddit gear in public. Some folks are really upset, and we don’t want you to be the object of their frustrations.” Overreaction much ? Are we really become that desensitized as a society? I find that hard to believe.

It feels like he trying to create the sense among Reddit employees that they are the victims, probably with the hope that it will temper internal criticism and create a sense that they are in this together (as opposed to its basically execs against everyone else).

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#136

I am a bit confused about this, do a lot of people access Reddit through a service that uses the API? To me Reddit is a website, people keep referring to it as an app, but I have never used an app for it. It works best in the browser.

The simple answer is "yes". Many many many people use Reddit through native apps and not the website.

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My personal (cynical) bet is that Huffman actually understands what Reddit is better than us, and Reddit will be just fine after this. To be completely honest, if a two-day blackout is proven to be the most serious "protest" the community can do, I'll buy Reddit stock when it IPO.

I agree. I think that this is a turning point for Reddit but not towards failure: they’re ditching the hardcore nerd audience that made them. But they’ve long since outgrown that audience and will likely (as a company) do just fine without them. As a community there will be a notable loss.

[flagged]

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#138
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Usual bait and switch from Reddit. Providing an API for free for 15 years. Yeah, total bait and switch.

15 years of leaving money on the table. Not quite at the level of Uber in terms of setting money on fire, but respectable nonetheless.

The bots enabled by the free api was what allowed Reddit to transition from a small hangout into "the front page of the internet". Without the bots and tools enabled by the free api the site will rapidly devolve into a cesspool like Facebook.

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#139
post #38

I don't really understand why it had to be this way. It's so easy to think of other ways this could have been handled. Even just announcing the same change with 6 months of lead time rather than 1 month would have gone over better. Or boil the frog and gradually introduce API restrictions. It's as if the CEO is purposefully being as belligerent as possible to rile people up.

Don't underestimate the power of ego.

It causes irrational behaviors.

Re: Reddit Doubles Down

#140

I am a bit confused about this, do a lot of people access Reddit through a service that uses the API? To me Reddit is a website, people keep referring to it as an app, but I have never used an app for it. It works best in the browser.

Have you tried any of the third party android apps? Definitely a step ahead of old.reddit and many times better than the current default...

It's best at a desktop with old.reddit and res, but the better apps are a close second.

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