Apple-related subreddit /r/apple has gone darkish in protest of Reddit’s upcoming API pricing adjustments affecting third-party Reddit apps. The subreddit is now personal, that means that customers can now not view or submit posts, and the moderators behind the group stated it’ll stay that method for the following 48 hours, or doubtlessly longer if obligatory.

/r/apple is one among many subreddits that might be going darkish over the following few days, alongside /r/movies, /r/gaming, /r/sports activities, /r/aww, and others. The organized blackout comes after Reddit introduced costly API pricing adjustments that threaten to place some third-party Reddit apps out of enterprise. Christian Selig, developer of well-liked Reddit app Apollo, stated he would owe Reddit round $20 million per 12 months below the brand new coverage. Consequently, Selig introduced that Apollo might be shutting down on the finish of the month.

Reddit’s API offers apps like Apollo with Reddit knowledge like posts and feedback, and it has been free to make use of till now. Selig stated it’s comprehensible for Reddit to start charging for entry to the API, however the pricing is prohibitively costly. Selig additionally stated Reddit supplied him with minimal time to organize for the adjustments.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman addressed the subject in a Reddit submit final week, however his feedback have been closely criticized and obtained 1000’s of downvotes from Reddit customers. Regardless of backlash from the group, Reddit has but to reverse course on its plans to date, and the API adjustments are set to enter impact on July 1 if upheld.