Full Breakdown
Reddit Restricts Old Interface, Ends RSS and Public API Amid Scraping Concerns
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Changes to the Classic Reddit Experience
Reddit announced that access to “Old Reddit,” the text-heavy legacy view, will soon require users to be logged in and to have visited the classic site within the last 90 days. Logged-in moderators are exempt from the recent-use rule, and the company said the safeguards are needed to curb “abusive scraping and automated traffic.”
RSS Feed Shutdown
Reddit will cease support for RSS feeds on November 13. No direct replacement is offered for feeds used outside of moderation contexts; moderators are advised to migrate to the Discord Relay Devvit app.
Public API Termination
Reddit also confirmed that its public API will be discontinued in 2027. The change will affect third-party tools that rely on programmatic access, including social-listening services, academic research platforms, and AI assistants that currently draw on Reddit content. Developers must register approved apps and bots by January 12, 2027 or lose API access. After that date, only commercial data agreements will allow continued use.
Business Context and Revenue Drivers
The moves come as Reddit’s “other revenue”—primarily licensing of user-generated content to AI developers—rose 24 % year-over-year to $43 million in the most recent quarter. Company officials have linked the tighter data controls to protecting this growing revenue stream while limiting free, unsanctioned data extraction.
Official Statements & Future Steps
The company reiterated that moderators will retain unrestricted classic access and urged developers to complete registration before the January 12 deadline to avoid disruption. These steps are presented as necessary safeguards against large-scale scraping and to preserve the platform’s value for both users and commercial partners.
