June 14, 2023
In an internal memo obtained by The Verge, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has responded to the recent backlash the company has faced over its increased API pricing for third-party applications. Huffman urged employees to remain focused and to continue working on improving the platform, despite the ongoing blackout of numerous subreddits.
The blackout, which began on Monday, June 12, is in protest of Reddit’s decision to increase the cost of API access for third-party developers. Several popular Reddit clients, such as Apollo for Reddit and rif is fun for Reddit, have said that the increased costs would make it impossible for them to continue operating. As of Tuesday, over 8,000 subreddits have joined the blackout, with some intending to remain private indefinitely.
Huffman acknowledged the uproar surrounding the issue and said that Reddit’s teams are actively working on resolving the situation. He also assured employees that the blackout has not caused a “significant revenue impact” and that he is confident that many subreddits will resume activity by Wednesday.
Huffman added that the company is still facing challenges and that teams are working to address the issues and improve the product. Some third-party apps may shut down, but accessibility-focused apps will be exempt. He also urged employees to be mindful of wearing Reddit gear in public due to the high level of frustration among some users.
The sources for this piece include an article in TheVerge.
