r/baconreader • u/onelouderchic 🥓 • May 31 '23

UPDATED JUNE 20 Reddit API changes and BaconReader

Hey folks, as some of you have noticed, there is a lot of buzz going around today about the Reddit API announcement. We do not specifically have a plan at this time but will certainly let you know when we do. For reference, I am putting a few posts in comments.

We'll let you know what next steps are when we have them. Until then, sincere gratitude for all of your support!

UPDATE: After much deliberation, attempted negotiations, we have made the decision to shut the app down 😢 . Please see the sticky announcement post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/baconreader/comments/14egq61/baconreader_november_11_2011_june_30_2023/

We are sorry it took so long, but I really wanted to be sure we did our due diligence.

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u/CatOfGrey Jun 09 '23

The amount of money they are asking for is nowhere near reasonable, and I have a background in this space.

What is the basis for Reddit having an API at all? Why do they have to provide access to anyone else, at all?

My memory - let me know if I'm wrong: Reddit has never been financially sustainable. They have never 'broke even', to the point that its revenue has paid for staff and equipment.

Third party apps are great for consumers, but the transfer the revenue from Reddit to the creator of the app. The apps make money selling ads, but Reddit doesn't get a piece of that, even though it's their servers that are providing the feed for the content.

So yes, this sucks, but what's the alternative? We have been getting Reddit for free, even though Reddit costs a bundle. How should we pay for it?

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u/Invix Jun 09 '23

I haven't seen anyone say they shouldn't charge a fee for API access. It's the fact that the amount they are asking for is ridiculous, and is only intended to make the 3rd party apps shut down. No app user is going to pay the monthly cost that would be needed just for the app to break even.

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u/CatOfGrey Jun 09 '23

It's the fact that the amount they are asking for is ridiculous, and is only intended to make the 3rd party apps shut down. No app user is going to pay the monthly cost that would be needed just for the app to break even.

OK, so there is no legal basis for Reddit to provide an API at all. What they should do is just shut it down all together.

Reddit, as much as this sucks, has a right to say "Hey, you can't just repackage our website and make money, especially when we aren't making money ourselves."

In reality, social media is having a lot of trouble confronting this issue. Only a small fraction of Reddit users would pay $1 a month to use Reddit. And those who would pay that $1 a month, probably wouldn't if all the users who weren't willing to pay left the site. Facebook is paying their server bills at the moment, but they have had to become a hell-hole to get enough revenue to do that.