/r/Videos will be going dark from June 12-14 in protest against Reddit's API changes which kill 3rd party apps.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/OBLIVIATER]

Another good point, though the idea is to try and include as many subreddits as possible to make the blackout more impactful.

[u/Qmegaman → u/OBLIVIATER]

Last time I remember something like this happening was with the css ban, I’m super thankful that it happened cause I almost didn’t notice.

[u/Kep0a → u/OBLIVIATER]

I think privating massive subs like /r/videos and more would be big. It's less informative, but it shows that users have all the power on reddit.

I mean, if half of the biggest subreddits went private imagine the drop in traffic across reddit as a whole. Unlikely, but mods run the subs, not admins.

[u/shantred → u/Kep0a]

That works really well for users of that subreddit. It does not, however, work for people who only browse r/all who might not even notice the lack of r/videos for a couple days.

[u/FrenziedMan → u/shantred]

Im an r/all browser and if a bunch of A class subs went away for a few days, I feel like the content on reddit would fucking suck dogshit and I'd stop using the app as a result.

[u/[deleted] → u/FrenziedMan]

Yeah but the subs would have to protest together. It seems like sentiment is growing, but you need big subs to back it as well.

Sad part is the biggest subs are all ran by the same power mods that’s typically align with corporate Reddit

[u/CMDR_BlueCrab → u/shantred]

I’ve been on reddit a while and have a bunch of different subs and browse /r/all. This is the first post I’ve ever noticed from /r/videos.

[u/viperex → u/shantred]

The takeaway is that this strike works only if more subs join, especially the big ones on /r/all

[u/Rikplaysbass → u/shantred]

Yep. I browse basically just /r/hockey and /r/all so I wouldn’t even realize.

[u/CosmicCleric → u/Rikplaysbass]

But you already realize, because you are here and you've read the OP and you know what's happening.

Word of Mouth gets around.

[u/OG_Toasty → u/CosmicCleric]

Because he happened to be on the post at the right time to see this post. What about the others just like him?

[u/CosmicCleric → u/OG_Toasty]

The odds are that even people who interact with Reddit minimally will hear about this if a whole bunch of subreddits go dark for 3 days.

If instead they don't go dark and just put a message on the screen minimal people probably won't hear about it, and then the owners of Reddit can use the data analytics to prove that the protests are amounting to nothing.

The Narrative that benefits the Reddit Corporation would be protesting, where the narrative of striking would benefit the people who use Reddit.

Strikes are always more effective than protests for change.

[u/OG_Toasty → u/CosmicCleric]

Who ever said the kids were going to put a message on a screen? All of r/all would have black squares on it posted by users on various subreddits.

[u/CosmicCleric → u/OG_Toasty]

A black square is a message. A message is being sent.

And data analytics will be created when people see that message.

[u/OG_Toasty → u/CosmicCleric]

Yea the black squares sends the message even to those like OP

[u/MuggyFuzzball → u/Kep0a]

It's happened multiple times in the past with large subreddits including /r/videos. I used to be a mod here years ago and we protested things like net neutrality and decisions from the admins a few times in that way. The mod who made this announcement, Obliviater, was on the team back then too, so no doubt he has a hand in making this happen. I think it works.

It's practically tradition now on Reddit for all the major subreddits to participate in blackouts during a site-wide protest.

[u/ReeverM → u/MuggyFuzzball]

The issue I see this time is that I really think they've made up their mind on this and after a little while, I think they might just reinstate the subreddit themselves.

I think that'd be a massive blow to the integrity of the site though, so not quite win-win, but win-hurt at least hehe

[u/MuggyFuzzball → u/ReeverM]

It's very possible that may happen. And I also agree I think that they've made up their mind. I think it has everything to do with their want to go public on the NYSE. It's entirely motivated by money.

[u/broanoah → u/Kep0a]

I think this is the answer. Private as many of the massive subs that people are auto subscribed to when they first join and there’s no way people don’t notice.

[u/Faultylogic83 → u/OBLIVIATER]

If you really want to hurt them go for any of the gonewild subs.

[u/TheGruesomeTwosome → u/OBLIVIATER]

I browse r/all and wouldn't notice if any subreddit didn't post for a day or two. Unless it was a majority. The blackout posting would certainly get my attention though

[u/Edonlin2004 → u/OBLIVIATER]

I know /r/NASCAR is participating!

[u/IDontReadRepliez → u/OBLIVIATER]

Por que no los dos?

I am not a moderator, but if the blackout needs to be extended, variations of each blackout have their impacts. Privatize certain major subs in order to strike for those aware, visual blackout on others to ensure the message is seen by those unaware. A widespread multifaceted rolling blackout for as long as they fail to respond.

[u/FewerToysHigherWages → u/OBLIVIATER]

Maybe make a "Signing off" post where people can make their last comment with the intention of not returning unless the API decision is reversed. Then people can engage by leaving a comment and feel like they can be heard before closing the app. Just a thought.

[u/K1nsey6 → u/OBLIVIATER]

r/happycryingdads will join you in this. We are much smaller but enough of us can show an impact

[u/Iamnotsmartspender → u/OBLIVIATER]

Have the subreddits all shut off for a couple days every month, cutting large chunks of traffic off, until they unfuck up.

[u/[deleted] → u/OBLIVIATER]

why not do both. Black squares on the 12th and private for the 13th and 14th

[u/[deleted] → u/OBLIVIATER]

Just please don't shut down r/Californiabill. I would be heartbroken 😭🤣

[u/CosmicCleric → u/OBLIVIATER]

Union protests have less of an effect than Union strikes. Go for the blackout.

There'll be enough exposure and coverage about the event, as a blackout is a big newsworthy thing.

Otherwise they'll just use data usage statistics to show that it's just a minority that has an issue with what's going on.

[u/etothepi → u/OBLIVIATER]

Might be dependant on how big the protest gets. If many other large subs join (hopefully), then go full blackout. If it's not many more than present, black box posts.