r/redditisfun • u/talklittle RIF Dev • May 31 '23

RIF dev here - Reddit's API changes will likely kill RIF and other apps, on July 1, 2023

I need more time to get all my thoughts together, but posting this quick post since so many users have been asking, and it's been making rounds on news sites.

Summary of what Reddit Inc has announced so far, specifically the parts that will kill many third-party apps:

  1. The Reddit API will cost money, and the pricing announced today will cost apps like Apollo $20 million per year to run. RIF may differ but it would be in the same ballpark. And no, RIF does not earn anywhere remotely near this number.

  2. As part of this they are blocking ads in third-party apps, which make up the majority of RIF's revenue. So they want to force a paid subscription model onto RIF's users. Meanwhile Reddit's official app still continues to make the vast majority of its money from ads.

  3. Removal of sexually explicit material from third-party apps while keeping said content in the official app. Some people have speculated that NSFW is going to leave Reddit entirely, but then why would Reddit Inc have recently expanded NSFW upload support on their desktop site?

Their recent moves smell a lot like they want third-party apps gone, RIF included.

I know some users will chime in saying they are willing to pay a monthly subscription to keep RIF going, but trust me that you would be in the minority. There is very little value in paying a high subscription for less content (in this case, NSFW). Honestly if I were a user of RIF and not the dev, I'd have a hard time justifying paying the high prices being forced by Reddit Inc, despite how much RIF obviously means to me.

There is a lot more I want to say, and I kind of scrambled to write this since I didn't expect news reports today. I'll probably write more follow-up posts that are better thought out. But this is the gist of what's been going on with Reddit third-party apps in 2023.

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u/dmanww Jun 01 '23

This does feel like the FB decline of a couple years ago.

May have to start looking at individual forums again.

It's too bad, because the all-in-one nature of reddit allowed for nice discovery of new topics and small subs

13

u/Wild_Marker Jun 01 '23

I welcome going back to game forums that aren't 90% memes and 10% discussion.

But unless we get them back to critical mass I don't know how we're getting out of game subreddits entirely.

4

u/TheCardiganKing Jun 01 '23

GameFAQs is still the same and still going mighty strong. The DIY and instruction side is what I'd miss the most. Millennials were the DIY generation, though, I haven't seen too many Gen Z-ers get into building and making things. The magic just isn't there and it's palpable on Reddit as of late.

12

u/Wild_Marker Jun 01 '23 edited Jun 01 '23

I suppose it's the corporate internet. Z's grew in it and are more used to having the algorithms vomit stuff at them. I never got used to it myself, if I'm not looking for the content then it's not usually content I want to see.

I wasn't aware the gamefaq forums were that active. I remember making a guide there in 2007! I should check it out sometimes.

8

u/TheCardiganKing Jun 01 '23

I do not like content crammed down my throat, it might as well be TV, and I find the notion of commercials disgusting. Instagram is rife with commercials disguised as content.

The main console boards are very active over at GameFAQs. Check the Switch message boards, PS4/5, etc.

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u/peteroh9 Jun 01 '23

I'm sure the /u/warlizard gaming forums are as active as ever.

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u/Warlizard Jun 01 '23

ಠ_ಠ

3

u/rxvirus Jun 01 '23

I'm going to miss these times when I randomly have a good laugh because u/Warlizard shows up

2

u/Warlizard Jun 01 '23

Pretty bummed about all the api changes. I get it, but I don't like it.

2

u/Wild_Marker Jun 01 '23

I haven't seen this interaction in ages. I wasn't even aware we were still doing this. Aaah brings a tear to my eyes.

Is there an old people subreddit? Like, a subreddit where you can only enter if your account is X years old? Maybe we should all gather there.

1

u/Warlizard Jun 01 '23

/r/genx

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u/Wild_Marker Jun 01 '23

I mean old in reddit years, stop making me feel old in real life!

1

u/NameTak3r Jun 01 '23

Wow, been a long time since I saw this one