David Bridges
Reddit is taking significant steps to protect its data and mitigate the influence of automated bots within subreddit communities by implementing two critical updates to its developer tools.
The first major change is the discontinuation of support for RSS feeds, which have allowed third-party platforms to display the latest updates from Reddit.
According to Reddit, RSS feeds have become a popular target for data scraping, prompting the decision to terminate support for these feeds.
Reddit stated, “Due to the widespread use of RSS as a means for large-scale scraping and automated abuse, we will cease support for RSS feeds on November 13, 2026. We will, however, maintain moderation workflows that depend on RSS through supported alternatives.”
Moderators will still have the ability to manage alerts via Devvit applications, but the traditional update feeds will no longer be available.
Reddit advises, “If your moderation team relies on RSS, please assess your setup and transition your workflows before November 13 to avoid disruption.” Furthermore, for those using RSS feeds outside of moderated communities, there will be no alternative solution.
To the RSS changes, Reddit is transitioning its public data API to its Developer Platform, introducing a paid-only access model for all Reddit data.
Previously, Reddit provided limited API access for free to approved developers. Moving forward, this change will affect various third-party tools and systems that depend on Reddit posts for updates.
Reddit has been gradually restricting access to its data to prevent artificial intelligence systems from scraping the platform to enhance their language models.
In 2023, Reddit raised its API pricing to ensure the platform could benefit financially from AI projects that utilize its data. In May 2024, Reddit unveiled an updated Public Content Policy to clarify new guidelines regarding external access, and last year, the company initiated legal actions against multiple data scrapers that allegedly attempted to extract Reddit data for resale to companies like OpenAI and Meta.
In its Q2 performance update, Reddit reported that its alternative revenue streams, outside of advertising, generated $42 million, reflecting a 24% increase year over year. Data licensing plays a crucial role in this revenue, especially since Reddit is frequently referenced as a source for AI chatbot responses. This fact underscores the platform’s motivation to safeguard its data and ensure continued monetization.
Simultaneously, a recent report from PromptWatch revealed a significant decline in Reddit citations within ChatGPT responses last month. This decline highlights the platform’s vulnerability in this area, potentially prompting Reddit to solidify its partnerships related to AI data supply.
Ivy Caldwell
Troy Sanders
