Reddit tightens Old Reddit access, ends RSS and public API, citing AI scraping
Reddit announced it will further restrict Old Reddit, end RSS feeds on November 13 and close its public API in March 2027, saying scraping and automated abuse require it. Coverage differs on the length of the usage window for Old Reddit.
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The story, neutrally told
Reddit announced on Wednesday 30 September that it is further limiting who can use Old Reddit, its classic text-heavy site, as part of efforts to combat scraping and automated traffic. The VergeLC “Reddit is further limiting who can use the “Old Reddit” experience as part of its efforts to combat scraping and automated traffic.” Read at The Verge ↗ TechCrunchN “said it was “adding safeguards” to its classic, text-heavy version of its site known as Old Reddit.” Read at TechCrunch ↗ Reddit had recently begun requiring users to log in to use Old Reddit. It says that step helped reduce scraping but still let any logged-in account in, including accounts with no prior Old Reddit use. The VergeLC “still allowed any logged-in account to access Old Reddit, including accounts with no prior Old Reddit use.” Read at The Verge ↗ In the next few months, users will need to be logged in and to have recently used Old Reddit. The Verge reports the window as six months from rollout, while TechCrunch reports it as the last 90 days. The VergeLC “you’ll have to be logged in and have used Old Reddit in the six months from when the change rolls out” Read at The Verge ↗ TechCrunchN “limit access for logged-in users to those who have used Old Reddit in the last 90 days.” Read at TechCrunch ↗
Logged-in moderators will still be able to use Old Reddit without the recent-usage requirement. The VergeLC “Logged-in moderators, however, will still be able to use Old Reddit without a recent usage requirement.” Read at The Verge ↗ Reddit will also end RSS feed support on November 13, calling RSS “a common surface for large-scale scraping and automated abuse.” It recommends the Discord Relay app to moderators and says there is no replacement for RSS used outside communities a person moderates. TechCrunchN “Reddit said RSS support will cease on November 13.” Read at TechCrunch ↗ The VergeLC “If you use RSS for feeds outside of a community you moderate, there is no replacement.” Read at The Verge ↗ Public API access will end in March 2027, and developers of approved third-party apps and bots must register by January 12, 2027 or lose access. TechCrunchN “Reddit will remove API access for any developer that hasn’t registered.” Read at TechCrunch ↗ The VergeLC “all remaining public API access “will end in March 2027.”” Read at The Verge ↗
TechCrunch links the moves to Reddit's AI licensing business, noting that non-advertising revenue rose 24% year over year to $43 million in the second quarter. TechCrunchN “its “other revenue” beyond advertising had grown 24% year-over-year to $43 million.” Read at TechCrunch ↗ The Verge places the change in a longer pattern: Reddit blocked the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, sued Anthropic and signed data deals with Google and OpenAI. It also notes CEO Steve Huffman's 2025 pledge to keep Old Reddit online as long as people use it. The VergeLC “blocking the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine to prevent AI scraping, suing Anthropic over alleged unauthorized bot access, and striking deals with Google and OpenAI”“keep it online as long as people are using it.” Read at The Verge ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Leads with Old Reddit restrictions and places them in Reddit's wider fight against unsanctioned data access, including its earlier promise to keep Old Reddit.
- Emphasis
- Old Reddit user impact, the bot-blocking logic, and Reddit's litigation and deals.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Reddit's AI licensing revenue figures or the effect on AI assistants of ending the public API.
- Charged language
- “waging war”
- For example
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“The company has been waging war against unsanctioned access to its data for some time” — The Verge
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the end of RSS and public API as a loss for the open web, tied to Reddit's AI data business.
- Emphasis
- RSS and API shutdowns, moderator worries, and the commercial value of Reddit's data.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Treats Old Reddit as a side item and omits Huffman's earlier statements and Reddit's lawsuits.
- Charged language
- “killing RSS feeds”“bad news for supporters of a more open web”
- For example
-
“comes bad news for supporters of a more open web: Reddit is ending support for RSS feeds.” — TechCrunch
“It’s no wonder that Reddit doesn’t want to give any of that data away for free.” — TechCrunch
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Reddit is restricting Old Reddit access, citing scraping and automated abuse.
- RSS support ends on November 13.
- Public API access ends in March 2027, with app registration required by January 12, 2027.
- Reddit recommends Discord Relay for moderators and says no replacement exists for non-moderation RSS use.
Where accounts differ
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Length of the recent-usage window for Old Reddit
- Left
- The Verge: users must have used Old Reddit in the six months from rollout, which Reddit says covers the vast majority of users.
- Centre
- TechCrunch: access limited to those who used Old Reddit in the last 90 days.
Reddit organisation
Reddit says RSS and the Old Reddit experience have become channels for scraping and automated abuse, and that the changes are needed to curb them while it moves developers to its Developer Platform.
“common surface for large-scale scraping and automated abuse,”” — TechCrunch
“helped reduce scraping and automated abuse” — The Verge
Left2 articles
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Reddit says it has to cut back access to ‘Old Reddit’ because of AI bots
Neutral Explains Reddit's rationale for the Old Reddit limits and its history of fighting scraping, noting the aim of blocking bots on abandoned accounts.
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Centre1 article
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Reddit is killing RSS feeds and ending public API access because of AI bots
Critical Presents the shutdowns as a loss for open-web users and as commercially motivated by AI licensing revenue.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 30 Sep 18:45 First The VergeLC Reddit says it has to cut back access to ‘Old Reddit’ because of AI bots
- 30 Sep 18:45 First TechCrunchN Reddit is killing RSS feeds and ending public API access because of AI bots
- 30 Sep 20:53 +2h 9m Ars TechnicaLC Reddit is putting more limits on Old.Reddit.com
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.