Reddit API changes are imminent. Here’s what’s happening to your favorite apps
Ars spoke to devs about their apps' future & what they learned from this ordeal.
![Reddit API changes are imminent. Here’s what’s happening to your favorite apps [Updated]](https://lemdro.id/pictrs/image/674dc087-cbec-43c9-a184-c7f8eeba13aa.jpeg?format=webp)
I've been spending so much time in the Fediverse for the last week, I had no idea there were so many apps that were going to adapt to the new API rules and keep going.
Looks like the smaller apps, and Narwhal has an NDA, so I'd bet they cut a deal with reddit to keep the price really low, in exchange for something, possibly forcing reddit ads into their app.
All have gone to a subscription format, which is still ridiculous. Reddit isn't worth accessing for any price monthly.
If reddit was willing to cut a deal for narwhal why weren’t they willing to cut a deal with apollo or RiF. If reddit just handled the situation better I would probably still be using it today and paying for a subscription for apollo. Now if I did that I’d feel like I’d be rewarding a company that treats its users with contempt and there’s no way I’m doing that.
I am no longer posting any of my work to reddit. Maybe if they started profit sharing with actual content creators I'd consider going back, but the hubris, greed, and animosity they've shown towards the users and mods that freely provide content/work that make the site worth anything has been infuriating.
I was a daily user for a frickin decade both posting and lurking.. Haven't been to reddit in almost 3 weeks now. Onward to the fediverse 👍
My favorite reddit app(baconreader) stopped working. Unless I see apologies and changing course on reddit I'll be trying my hardest to adapt to the Fediverse. I've commented more on here more than on reddit in by a higher percentage since I want this to work.
I haven't posted any content to the reddit sub that I mod since the blackout--I've been putting all of it on the equivalent community in lemmy.world. I was astonished that apparently only 2 or 3 of the 11,000 subscribers followed me over (0.03%!).
I've actually really been enjoying it here. Testing out the various apps, checking out how lemmy and kbin are the same and different...finding interesting communities. The posts have been growing, and there's something gratifying about watching problems get resolved, and updates get applied.
I check in on the reddit sub occasionally--I haven't decided what to do yet about my mod position yet--but it's pretty dead over there for the last couple of weeks (I guess I was doing most of the posting?).
Yep, me too. I've made the switch permanently a few weeks ago. Really nice to see more users come here and content is starting to flow.
Don't really miss the old site anymore.
Right there with you. Moved all of my lurking here. Reddit is dead to me, and RiF has been uninstalled to prevent opening it via muscle memory.
It seems that the ability for an app to continue depends on it having a small userbase willing to pay for the privilege, which probably isn't sustainable. I agree that Reddit has a right to make money but there are better ways to do it that don't involve making Reddit harder to use.
I think there will be some willing to pay, but it is heavily dependent on whether people actually decide to jump over to the Fediverse or not. We really need to work hard while we still have time to drive content and community here to show users that there is a path forward.
Former Apollo user. I just tried to do my morning browse on the official app. It was a sea of ads and negativity. I had to stop after 10 minutes. Would love to see this place take off.
I think people are open minded about migration, but this place is not exactly a warm welcome to new users. For every 1 person that comes and stays, I’d estimate that 5 do not.
It’s frustrating to navigate, it’s not straightforward on how everything works, the differences between “magazines, people, and threads” is not spelled out…how the fediverse is integrated.
Without a coherent and cohesive redesign and or some polished mobile apps to bring it together, it’s futile and wasting the momentum given to it imo.
Coming from Apollo and using Reddit for 15 years, as a tech savvy person, I can say with certainty that the average person (specifically Reddit user) won’t make it much past creating an account. Maybe Christian could work on something for the fediverse. I’d pay for a polished mobile app if he released one.
The hard part for me over the past couple of days is the familiarity, yet completely different way things work.
Been only on mobile though, which is very much the likely reason. And the same reason that most people will not stay. It’s not the lack of groups and content. It’s the ease at which they can jump into it. The easier it is (for a mobile user), the more people will come, and the niche forum content will organically arise.
I don't care what scabs stay if there are no changes to the reddit API policy. Why would you ever pay for something in a subscription model without getting full access to all the content? You lose all/anything labeled NSFW content, doesn't matter if it's spoilers, combat footage, or porn.
I've only gone on to reddit recently for certain health related matters/ ultra niche subs with a revanced app (took a bit to get set up) or through old reddit with RES, an adblocker, and strict tracking blocking (seriously, reddit tracks you like crazy. It's ultra creepy.).
Otherwise, lemmy is new home and it is best to forget the old world and let them/those ways fail.
Love to see so many Lemmy mentions in the comments! That’s a sure fire way to get people to give the Fediverse a try.
I can say while it’s not difficult to set up an account, it’s not as easy as give us your email and make a password for this one site. I’m figuring it out as I go but those little things might be enough to turn some people away.
NSFW content is not available in 3rd party apps, and I'm paying for it? You gotta be kidding spez.. You killing them.
“ReGuLaTOrY ENviRoNmeNt”
Surely it’s not trying to whitewash the site in prep for the IPO…
A website without NSFW is like cereal but it's only plain milk
I would say, a website without NSFW is like cereal but without sugar.
My app now just has a popup telling me to go to Lemmy 😀 Seriously happy sync is going to be released for Lemmy, I'm already pretty happy with my feed.
Heh. I clicked on the RIF link and it took me to their Reddit post wherein I immediately got a pop-up trying to direct me to read it on the official Reddit app.
Yeah, no.
I don't foresee any of those remaining apps lasting the remainder of the year; people are tired of paying for subscriptions, and since Reddit is technically free, they're less like to pay for a 3rd-party app sub. No matter how cheap it might be.
Boost for reddit is still working. Any ideas why?
