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Ask HN: How many of us have (nearly) abandoned Reddit over the API debacle?

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Re: Ask HN: How many of us have (nearly) abandoned Reddit over the API debacle?

#12

Post by albert_e »

I have virtually stopped using Reddit.

I have been aware of a growing addiction / habit of spending many hours daily online.

Used the API blackout to cut myself off. Occassionally miss it for technical forums where I want to see or post specific ideas or reviews or help. Holding out so far.

Still spend too much time online -- HN and Twitter.

EDIT: used this opportunity to re-enable noprocrast setting on my HN user profile (with a little less aggressive controls this time, hoping it sticks)

Re: Ask HN: How many of us have (nearly) abandoned Reddit over the API debacle?

#14

Post by nonstopdev »

Apollo user with multiple active accounts that was on daily. Active for 12 years with karma for posts and comments.

Basically use the old website on a laptop once every few weeks now and never engage with any content anymore. Mostly check news, click a link maybe, and move on but has been replaced by other information sources.

Re: Ask HN: How many of us have (nearly) abandoned Reddit over the API debacle?

#15

Post by neontomo »

Deleted my account the other day. Not because of the API changes, but because I've noticed the content becoming more and more toxic (and damaging to my mental health).

I was trying for a long time to hide toxic subreddits and individual posts I didn't enjoy, and even tried blocking keywords with uBlock, but in the end it was only putting a bandaid on a fatal wound. The content seems to be gearing towards toxic internet trends, hateful content, rage-bait, people actually dying on video and a whole lot of people telling other people what to think about social issues. I like nuanced discussions, not shaming people into submission on either side of the political spectrum.

I admit, this has always been on the platform but I used to go on Reddit to find interesting stories, cute stuff and really bizarre articles about how the world works (like mantis shrimps being able to crush a fish tank glass with a single punch, and so on). I find less of it now, and the main use for Reddit is while trying to solve a problem. For example:

Google: site:reddit.com How do I boot my Mac into Safe Mode

Side-note, I really miss old internet culture. I feel there's less spaces for people to just have chats about stuff without it being "content" or a way to make money/internet points. I find it here still, and it used to be What.CD forums/IRC too.

Re: Ask HN: How many of us have (nearly) abandoned Reddit over the API debacle?

#16

Post by MattBearman »

I’ve not casually browsed reddit since apollo shut down, occasionally I’ll end up on a post from a search, or my wife will show me something she’s seen, but that’s it. I was a pretty heavy user before as well.

Before apollo stopped I had set my phone to limit me to half an hour a day, a limit I hit almost every day, and regularly exceeded.

I don’t really miss it though, so it’s probably been a net benefit for me, but I’m still pissed off at how it went down

Re: Ask HN: How many of us have (nearly) abandoned Reddit over the API debacle?

#17

Post by jamisonbryant »

I did. The only time I end up there anymore is when the occasional post gets posted here or one turns up in my search results. Usually loaded up in my mobile browser, with super tiny text and ads blocked.

The funny thing is, before the brouhaha I wasn't even using a third party app to access the site or any 3rd-party platform (that I'm aware of) that used the API. I was using the native vanilla app and I found it just fine.

But, as a developer I could not in good conscience continue voting with my wallet by viewing ads for a company that clearly didn't care to play nice with the developers that were part of making the platform great.

Re: Ask HN: How many of us have (nearly) abandoned Reddit over the API debacle?

#19

Post by wojciii »

I did. I used their client but it got so bad that I decided to stop using Reddit instead of trying to use it.

The app was bad and required restarts often because video wouldn't play. Then they fucked up some of the modes I used to read some reedits in.. which together with the way they handled the API debacle made me remove my user after 10 years.

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