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Reddit to End RSS Support Amidst Shift to Monetize Data

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Reddit has announced a significant change: it will end support for RSS feeds by November 13, citing concerns over "large-scale scraping and automated abuse." This decision has disheartened advocates of a more open web.

  • Background: RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, became popular during the blogging era for providing users with an easy way to receive updates from various websites. However, the closure of Google Reader in 2013 had already dealt a blow to the format, pushing users towards companies like Feedly.
  • Monetization Goal: The end of RSS comes alongside Reddit's growing efforts to monetize its user-generated content, notably through AI licensing deals. Reddit's secondary revenue, not including advertising, saw a 24% increase to $43 million.
  • Impact on Moderators: Reddit suggests moderators move to the Discord Relay Devvit app for alerts, as RSS alternatives are not available for more general feed use outside moderation.
  • Public API Changes: Additionally, Reddit plans to end public API access by March 2027, affecting tools utilized for programmatic access. Post-closure, AI tools will need commercial arrangements to access Reddit data.
  • Additional Updates: Other updates include progress on Rules Hub and changes to Old Reddit, now accessible only to active logged-in users to prevent abusive scraping.

Moderators and users have expressed concerns about managing their communities effectively after these changes, which could disrupt their current workflows significantly.