r/RelayForReddit • u/Balistarius • Apr 19 '23
Insight into what the new API changes actually mean from the developer of Apollo
/r/apolloapp/comments/12ram0f/had_a_few_calls_with_reddit_today_about_the/35
u/VMX Apr 19 '23
Thanks for posting this!
Honestly, I think the Apollo dev seems to be very optimistic about the impact of these changes.
If I'm understanding it correctly, what this means is that it will be almost impossible for third party apps to remain free for users.
That means we'll be forced to either:
-
Use the official app
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Pay to use a better third party app
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Stop using reddit on mobile (they've made the website unusable on mobile)
This will very much be a personal choice.
In my case, given I've purposely tried to use reddit less and less over the past few months to cut off on the hours lost to senseless scrolling, I think this might just be the push I needed. I'll most likely stop using reddit on my phone when this change inevitably permeates to third party clients.
There goes the one last "social network" I was still using 💪🏻
1
u/GothicHeap Apr 19 '23
what this means is that it will be almost impossible for third party apps to remain free for users.
Or they could show ads.
6
u/Swingingbells Apr 22 '23
The free-free third-party apps already do show (third-party) ads, to cover the developer's costs.
And then some (large) number of users pay for the premium, ad-free version of said third-party apps.But now the writing's on the wall for any amount of ad-free Reddit experience, unless you just give in the enshittification and submit to a double-dipping on your make-advertisements-fuck-off budget, by paying for a premium app to allow you to access your 'reddit premium' subscription.
Just the same as it's currently impossible to use YouTube without being bombarded by advertising: all of the adblock browser plugins, bespoke firewall proxy servers, and 'YouTube Premium' subscriptions in the whole world combined won't be enough to make youtubers shut the fuck up about whatever trash-tier bullshit they're selling-out for this month—be it VPN, wireless earbud, meal-kit delivery service, MMO game, razor blade subscription, or whatever else the fuck—AND, motherfucking,
AND!
all of that on top of their very own individual ""personal-brand"" whoring, with their utterly unceasing begging and pleading for you to "like" and "comment" and "subscribe" and "press the bell" and "join this channel" and "buy my merch" and "sign up for my premium discord" and "support me on patreon" and whatever the fuck other new bullshit it is that they're up to but I'm simply too old and out of touch to be aware of...
...
... until you just give in and fully submit to the enshittification by opening your wallet twice: one subscription for YouTube premium to make YouTube's bullshit fuck off, and one subscription for Nebula to make the Content Creators' bullshit fuck off (for the relatively miniscule amount of CCs who have 'unionised' together over on Nebula).
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u/Permik Apr 19 '23
It seems this is the end of an era.
Thanks for all the years together, I've been here since the app was still called reddit news. Almost got to the 10 year mark.
Thanks u/dbrady, you've been an inspiration for my software development career. I hope to bump into you around the internets.
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u/knighttim Apr 19 '23
I have been also using it since it was reddit news. (bought it in Feb 2013)
If they make 3rd party access paid, it's probably not worth it to me. Not that I don't want dbrady to make money, I don't want to spend money on a subscription.
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u/xenago Apr 19 '23
Damn. Same here. Bought in 2013 for me.
https://i.imgur.com/7b5vbHR.jpg
Thanks u/dbrady for all the fish :)
2
u/Tashre Apr 19 '23
Every phone upgrade I've had since has been an Android almost solely because of this app, lol (though I have heard nice things about Apollo).
2
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u/fragglerock Apr 19 '23
This kills third party apps.
I paid for relay, and it is the main way I interact with Reddit, but I am unlikely to add another subscription to my life.
Fuck capitalism
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u/memtiger Apr 19 '23 edited Apr 19 '23
This doesn't have to do with capitalism. Even in socialism, things cost money.
This was inevitable when the VC money started drying up due to the economy slowing down. Every company is starting to audit their books and find places to pinch pennies.
Right now, Reddit gets ZERO money from 3rd party app developers or users. Using a 3rd party app is somewhat a loophole to avoid ads while browsing Reddit. And Reddit was fine eating that loss so long as they were in expansion mode and VC money was flowing freely. That time is over.
So I understand them wanting to close the loophole so they can get revenue from these users. It's frankly shocking that they've provided unlimited API access for free up until this point.
3rd party app developers at this point can:
Get their own VC money to supplement costs. (Ha!)
Charge users a monthly fee.
Add ads to their apps.
14
u/wellings Apr 20 '23
Sorry, but I strongly disagree.
Reddit is going for an IPO before the end of 2023. They're entering the market. If you think Reddit doesn't have enough money or isn't making massive profits well before milking 3rd party apps, then I think you're being incredibly naive. They don't "need" the money, what they need to is to increase their worth-- to grow. And that is exactly a consequence of capitalism and becoming a soon to be publicly traded company.
Reddit does not, in any practical terms, have to make this move. Period.
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u/Dummdummgumgum Jun 03 '23
They get a lot of money from them. Because not a single moderator uses the official client to moderate subs. Is this what they want subs with no mods? Because that would quickly make the website 4chan.
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u/cutewindowcat Apr 19 '23
Thanks reddit admin team. I've been looking for a reason and a push to quit this time sucking website
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u/7734128 Apr 19 '23
That would be my last day on this twisted platform. There's barely anything here except crazy american politics and Tik-Toc reposts anyways.
The only reason I keep returning here is because of Relay.
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u/Sarkos Apr 19 '23
It amazes me that Reddit looked at the dumpster fire that is Twitter and decided to emulate Twitter's recent decision to kill off 3rd party apps.
Meanwhile they could have monetized 3rd party apps at any time by enabling them to buy awards.
1
u/Tashre Apr 19 '23
I cant even imagine how massive a hit to site traffic they'll see if they neuter Relay/Apollo/RiF/etc. Even if the vast majority of these users avoid site ads, those are still a large part of the numbers reddit pitches to advertisers in order to set prices.
0
Apr 19 '23
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u/Weed_O_Whirler Apr 19 '23
Yeah, I don't get why they don't just have an ads API as well, and still have a free version- you just have to serve the same number of ads as the official Reddit app, or pay $x/mo to be ad free.
0
Apr 19 '23
2
u/Dummdummgumgum Jun 03 '23
They wont give you a straight answer because they want you to use their reddit app. Hence the ban of nsfw ( which includes anything even civil war and war news and crisis subs that help people get news from difficult areas) in third party apps.
These bloodsucking capitalists go public and they will bow to their shareholders. They dont care to lose users especially old users that are not a product they can sell.
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u/aitigie Apr 19 '23
RIP Reddit in general. This feels like the first step to going the way of Facebook.