New Reddit policy changes are a straight blow to community freedom

New Reddit policy changes have quietly rolled out that severely limit the ability of subreddit moderators to switch their communities from public to private without admin approval.

The change had sparked concerns that Reddit aims to prevent large-scale protests like those seen last year when over 8,000 subreddits went private in response to controversial Reddit API pricing changes.

What’s the motive behind Reddit policy changes?

The company has not provided an explicit reason for the Reddit policy changes but did direct inquiries to a post on r/modnews by Reddit’s VP of community, u/JasonWaterfalls. They cited the potential for platform disruption as a key factor, noting that “the ability to instantly change Community Type settings has been used to break the platform and violate our rules”.

A change to Community Type settings
byu/Go_JasonWaterfalls inmodnews

The new Reddit policy changes for admin approval come in the wake of last year’s protests that disrupted the site, reportedly causing a significant outage. During those protests, thousands of subreddits went private in response to changes that increased costs for third-party apps, leading many, like Apollo, to shut down.

The protest impacted daily traffic and, according to Reddit, caused “stability issues”.

Interestingly, this is not the first time moderators have used community-type switches as a form of protest. Some subreddits have also switched their classifications to NSFW (Not Safe For Work), which restricts advertising and search visibility.

However, Reddit now requires admin approval for this type of change as well, further tightening its grip on how moderators can express dissent.

Reddit now requires admin approval for subreddits switching to private or NSFW status, limiting protest options Google and Reddit’s control over internet communities

Google has long dominated the digital landscape, but recent trends show the tech giant tightening its grip on the internet in more subtle ways. From algorithm updates to its increasing reliance on AI, Google is steadily shaping how users find information online.

As it licenses to train AI models, Google is not just defining search engine results—it’s also defining the future of artificial intelligence, data accessibility, and online knowledge sharing.

As a matter of fact, the protests last year ultimately failed to stop Reddit from implementing its API pricing changes, and the new Reddit policy changes make it even more difficult for moderators to organize impactful protests. Adding to the frustration, Reddit recently signed a deal with Google to license its content for AI training, reportedly earning around $60 million annually. Meanwhile, the users who create this content see none of that revenue.

Reddit has struck a $60 Million deal with Google to Use its content for training AI models
byu/Yazzdevoleps ingoogle

In tandem with Reddit, Google’s actions are part of a larger movement where tech companies centralize control, influencing what we see, how we interact, and ultimately, the free flow of information.

In both Google and Reddit’s cases, the increasing control over how online communities and users interact highlights a growing trend: Platforms that once empowered users are now limiting them.

This shift not only affects the experience for millions but raises questions about who really controls the future of the internet.

Is this “the way”?

The Reddit policy changes reflect a broader shift where platforms like Reddit are increasing control over how communities function, making it harder for users and moderators to hold them accountable. For many, this represents a deeper erosion of Reddit’s once-vibrant culture of open dialogue and protest.

In reality, by limiting moderators’ power to make their subreddits private or protest through other means, Reddit has effectively removed one of the few ways they could pressure the company. Protests that can be easily ignored are not protests at all—and many feel that’s exactly the point of these Reddit policy changes.

And what exactly can we do about it? Can we support alternative platforms that prioritize user control? Can we develop new ways to hold platforms accountable for their decisions? These are questions we all need to consider as the future of the internet unfolds.

Featured image credit: Emre Çıtak/Ideogram AI