Reddit Communities Protest New API Pricing and Moderator Treatment with NSFW Designation
Many communities on Reddit have taken a stand against the platform’s new API pricing and its treatment of unpaid volunteer moderators by using the NSFW (Not Safe For Work) designation. This move has forced popular Reddit apps like Apollo and rif is fun for Reddit to shut down. Subreddits such as r/PICS and r/military have switched to NSFW, citing language from Reddit websites to justify their decision.
The moderators of the r/military community explained their switch to NSFW, stating that “military content has a chance to be violent content” and arguing that the subreddit should have been NSFW from the start. However, Reddit has sent messages to the moderators of these subreddits, demanding that they immediately correct their NSFW labeling. Reddit claims that these communities have not historically been considered NSFW and that the current policies do not support such a designation. Failure to comply may result in the removal of the moderators involved and additional actions, such as losing the ability to join future moderator teams.
The NSFW designation puts up an age gate and makes the subreddit ineligible for advertising, potentially affecting Reddit’s ability to monetize the channel and creating friction for users.
As of Thursday evening, r/PICS and r/military have dropped the NSFW designation. The moderators of the military subreddit explained that they reverted the label because the community serves as a helpful resource for veterans experiencing mental health crises, and removing the team could put the community at risk.
Reddit has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. However, in a previous statement, spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt stated that incorrectly marking a community as NSFW is a violation of both Reddit’s Content Policy and Moderator Code of Conduct.
The message from Reddit to the r/PICS moderators warned them to correct the NSFW labeling, emphasizing that it is a violation of the Mod Code of Conduct. Reddit stated that the subreddit has not historically been considered NSFW and must align with the platform’s current policies. Failure to comply would result in action being taken against the moderator team, including removal and potential restrictions on future moderator opportunities. Reddit also warned against posting or approving sexually explicit content to justify the NSFW label, as it would lead to the immediate removal and permanent suspension of participating moderators.
Rule 2 in the Moderator Code of Conduct requires moderators to set appropriate and reasonable expectations. Reddit admin account ModCodeofConduct previously stated that switching from safe for work to NSFW in protest is not acceptable, leading some communities to revert their decision under pressure from Reddit.
In the case of r/PICS, the subreddit initially switched to focusing solely on posts about comedian John Oliver after a community vote. However, the moderators later switched it to NSFW, believing that the content violated Reddit’s Content Policy. Reddit, however, claimed that the wiki page defining NSFW is outdated and pointed to a different page that does not provide specific rules for NSFW. Rule 6, which requires proper labeling of graphic, sexually explicit, or offensive content, is the closest guideline.
The rules of r/PICS explicitly state that explicit pornography or gore is not allowed, and posts in the community generally adhere to this rule. The subreddit argued that the visible marking of r/PICS as NSFW is crucial for establishing reasonable expectations.
The moderators of r/cyberpunkgame expressed their support for the communities that received messages from Reddit regarding the NSFW designation. They described Reddit’s actions as dystopian and concerning, particularly for Cyberpunk fans.
The ongoing protest by Reddit communities highlights their concerns over the platform’s new API pricing and treatment of moderators. The NSFW designation has become a symbol of resistance, but it also poses challenges for users and Reddit’s monetization efforts. The outcome of this conflict between Reddit and its communities remains uncertain.
What are the reasons for the communities on Reddit protesting against the platform’s new API pricing and treatment of unpaid volunteer moderators?
Communities on Reddit are protesting against the platform’s new API pricing and its treatment of unpaid volunteer moderators by utilizing the NSFW (Not Safe For Work) designation. This action has led to the closure of popular Reddit apps such as Apollo and rif is fun for Reddit. Subreddits like r/PICS and r/military have switched to NSFW, citing language from Reddit websites as justification for their decision.
The moderators of the r/military community defended their switch to NSFW, arguing that “military content has a chance to be violent content” and asserting that the subreddit should have always been marked as NSFW. However, Reddit has sent messages to these subreddits’ moderators, demanding that they immediately correct their NSFW labeling. The platform claims that these communities have historically not been considered NSFW and that its current policies do not support such a designation. Failure to comply with this demand may result in the removal of the involved moderators and other repercussions, such as losing the ability to join future moderator teams.
The NSFW designation places an age gate on the subreddit and makes it ineligible for advertising, potentially impacting Reddit’s ability to monetize the channel and causing inconvenience for users.
As of Thursday evening, both r/PICS and r/military have removed the NSFW designation. The moderators of the military subreddit explained that they reversed the label because the community serves as a valuable resource for veterans dealing with mental health crises, and removing the team could jeopardize the community’s safety.
Reddit has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter. However, spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt previously stated that incorrectly labeling a community as NSFW violates both Reddit’s Content Policy and Moderator Code of Conduct.
In its message to the r/PICS moderators, Reddit warned of the need to correct the NSFW labeling, emphasizing that it violates the Mod Code of Conduct. The platform stated that historically, the subreddit has not been considered NSFW and must align with its current policies. Failing to comply would result in action being taken against the moderator team, including possible removal and restrictions on future moderator opportunities.
It’s commendable to see Reddit mods taking a stand against API pricing and the treatment of volunteer mods. NSFW labeling shouldn’t be the focus when there are bigger issues at hand. Reddit must address the concerns and value the contributions of its dedicated volunteer moderators.
It’s great to see Reddit mods standing up for themselves and protesting against unfair API pricing and the treatment of volunteer moderators. NSFW labeling should not be a scapegoat for neglecting the rights of those who contribute so much to the platform. The Reddit community needs to address these issues and prioritize the well-being and fair treatment of its users.