Reddit will require you to log in to use old.reddit.com

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 12:21 AM UTC

altairprime wrote: post #28

rekabis wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it doesn’t have the same modern security tech stack reddit.com has so we need to tighten security on old reddit to keep it viable. This is how you justify it to anyone who doesn’t know web dev. For those who do, it’s an idiotic statement. The only difference between new Reddit and old Reddit is the visual styling and how content is presented. Both have all the same security.

They don’t mean websec, they mean textsec . The old site doesn’t have the level of text scraper defenses that the new site does, without which Reddit can’t monetize the written output of their userbase for AI training. Putting old behind a login wall solves that. Having previously recommended on HN that blogs put up a simple basicauth that takes any password to stop AI theft dead in its tracks, I definitely agree wit…

Post by hgoel » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 12:29 AM UTC

andrewinardeer wrote: post #14

People saying they'll never use Reddit again is just noise. I'm sure you've seen the "protests" and sub closures because of {$change}. Two weeks later the same mods and users realise they can't get their power trip or dopamine hit from anything else and are back on Reddit - with the mods proudly back working as unpaid janitors for a company with a billion dollars valuation.

Post by altairprime » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 1:30 AM UTC

bardan wrote: post #34

altairprime wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don’t mean websec, they mean textsec . The old site doesn’t have the level of text scraper defenses that the new site does, without which Reddit can’t monetize the written output of their userbase for AI training. Putting old behind a login wall solves that. Having previously recommended on HN that blogs put up a simple basicauth that takes any password to stop AI theft dead in its tracks, I definitely agree wit…

Potentially related is yt-dlp getting a 403 lately when downloading from Reddit. The extractor uses old.reddit.com. Hopefully they'll find a way to use the regular Reddit gateway instead. But I can't stand new Reddit so maybe I'll take this as an opportunity to give it up entirely.

Post by harshalizee » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 4:18 AM UTC

monk_grilla wrote: post #36

AmazingEveryDay wrote: post #2

They can tell abusive scrapers from regular users, they choose not to distinguish. I might give in and create an account eventually but damn. Had deleted my reddit about a decade ago.

How do you meaningfully use Reddit without an account? Do you really navigate to specific subreddits and read them one by one, rather than assembling a home feed of subs you have joined? You never want to participate in discussion, or vote on comments and posts? I don't really understand how you all were regularly browsing and using the site without an account.

Post by altairprime » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 9:31 AM UTC

vlian2088 wrote: post #38

altairprime wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don’t mean websec, they mean textsec . The old site doesn’t have the level of text scraper defenses that the new site does, without which Reddit can’t monetize the written output of their userbase for AI training. Putting old behind a login wall solves that. Having previously recommended on HN that blogs put up a simple basicauth that takes any password to stop AI theft dead in its tracks, I definitely agree wit…

>a simple basicauth that takes any password to stop AI theft dead in its tracks https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GWu2fY9Pu-c