Hello /r/nonononoyes readers,

Not my favourite meta post to make, but not less important, and one we hope you'll take the time to read.

On May 31^st, 2023, Reddit Inc has announced changes to their API usage policy which, if enacted, will quite permanently shut down many, if not all, 3^rd party apps that a large number of Redditors use to access and enjoy their favourite communities - this one included.

One of the most critical changes to the API is that it is moving from a free to a paid model, resulting in expenses that developers of 3^rd party apps simply cannot afford. To put the price change in to context, Apollo, one of the most popular 3^rd party apps for Reddit, is looking at a cost of $1.7 million per month to continue operating. In contrast, Apollo pays Imgur $166 per month for the same amount of API calls.

This means popular apps like Apollo, Reddit Is Fun, Narwhal and many more will have to shut down, permanently.

Even if you're not a mobile user and don't use any of those apps, this is a step toward killing other ways of customizing Reddit, such as Reddit Enhancement Suite or the use of the old.reddit.com desktop interface .

This isn't only a problem on the user level: many subreddit moderators depend on tools only available outside the official app to keep their communities on-topic and spam-free.

Here's a little TLDR on why all of this is important.

SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN?
On June 12^th, we and a growing number of other subs - large and small - will go dark for at least 48 hours. During that time, you will not be able to view or post any content on /r/nonononoyes.
Yes, we might just be a sub of people doing stupid or stupidly brilliant things working out ok in the end, but we're one of the (larger) communities on Reddit, and as such I feel we need to join our fellow subs in making a stand.

As mentioned, many other very popular subreddits are doing the same; some will return after 48 hours: others will go away permanently unless the issue is adequately addressed, since many moderators aren't able to put in the work they do with the poor tools available through the official app.

This isn't something any of us do lightly: we do what we do because we love Reddit, and we truly believe this change will make it impossible to keep doing what we love. Shutting down this sub for the period mentioned above is really something I hate to do, but I strongly believe that we must take a stand on this topic - and this is probably one of the most effective ways available to us on how we can do so.

The two-day blackout isn't the goal, and it isn't the end. Should things reach the 14^th with no sign of Reddit choosing to fix what they've broken, we'll use the community and buzz we've built between then and now as a tool for further action.

Even if you're not using a 3^rd party app yourself, these changes are likely to impact this and other communities you enjoy as well, with the vast majority of moderation teams relying on 3^rd party or self-made tools, that utilise Reddit's API.

And on top of all that, it paints a bleak picture of what is to come for those of us who use other tools, like Reddit Enhancement Suite and old.reddit.com.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

While subs going dark is one thing, regular users can help as well.

Reach out to Reddit via the channels available to you: Modmail /r/reddit, comment in relevant posts regarding the API changes, submit your comments via the contact forms.

Spread the word about the changes and the consequences where you can. Doesn't have to be on Reddit. The important thing is getting it attention.

Participate in the communities that highlight this issue: /r/Save3rdPartyApps, /r/apolloapp, /r/redditisfun, /r/getnarwhal/

And finally, stay off Reddit completely from June 12^th to 14^th. The blackout is one thing, but users staying away from the site entirely will send an equally important message.

LASTLY, PLEASE REMEMBER
Don't be a jerk. As upsetting this may be, threats, profanity and vandalism will be worse than useless in getting people on our side. Please make every effort to be as restrained, polite, reasonable and law-abiding as possible.

I'm leaving this post open for discussion, but as mentioned above, don't be a jerk when commenting. You might not care, but this impacts you directly if you realise it or not.

Sincerely,
/r/nonononoyes