Reddit Starts Blocking Mobile Website, Pushing Users to App Instead

[GermanSuplex]

It really started to die in 2022-2023, but the final nails are definitely being put in this year.

So many "open systems" now completely hidden if you don't have an account now. How long until Reddit doesn't even let you read without an account?

Of note - I killed my Reddit account during the whole Apollo API thing a few years ago. I even did the "gibberish your existing content" then "delete your old content", finally deleting my account. I did this in the week before the TOS changed.

I went back the next week - all my old content had been restored, just without my user name. Of course, without an active account, I couldn't open a support ticket demanding they delete my content. 😡

The open, available accessibility of Reddit was a huge part of its charm. Yes, there was a endless amount of junk, but that’s a small price to pay for what is essentially a global help desk of average users helping each other solve issues, which is what I use Reddit for.

AI actually works well to scrape useful info for Reddit - but then I guess they won’t get ads. However, I use Reddit less overall now due to their changes, so at least as far as this user goes, they aren’t gaining anything.

 

[ArrayDecay]

I've used Facebook and Reddit in the browser for years. It's crazy to download an app when the browser works just fine.

 

[onthebuses]

Good luck with that, bypassed within a couple of mins. 🤭

 

[robertcoogan]

Yes, it's all about ad revenue. I read The New York Times using Safari on my iPhone. Every so often, I get a pop-up that urges me to read the story in the app because "it's better." I subscribe to the Times and I don't want to be subjected to constant ads, which I can block with Safari. The app would prevent that. So it may be better for the Times, but not for me.

Yep, and people will do anything to avoid ads.

 

[smkbrvo]

You can use Brave and open it in a private tab and it goes away.

 

[maxoakland]

That’s irritating. Reddit’s app is garbage and I’m just overall sick of companies trying to control us.
I’ve managed to kick my Reddit addiction, luckily, and it’s blocked on my phone. But the people who still use it regularly deserve to choose if they want to install an app or not

 

[maxoakland]

Still working for me. Worst case can use a desktop user agent ig

And when they block desktop user agents what will you do?

 

[FatLouie]

I hope they don't shut down the web for good.

Al Gore will never let that happen. I mean, what with him inventing it and all...no way he will let the internet get shut down.

 

[Saturn1217]

This is so frustrating. I am a heavy Reddit user. I’m trying to combat phone addiction by uninstalling the app from my phone and NOT logging in on my phone so that I don’t get drawn into addictive conversations. That was an intentional decision on my part. I still use Reddit for a lot of research and am logged in on desktop.

I think they have stopped the experiment though (or at least it is no longer triggering on my phone). I just requested the desktop site to get around it anyway but the psychology around the decision still sucks.

Thank you MacRumors for bringing attention to this.

Also Reddit, directing a pissed off user to your App Store page is a GREAT way to get a one star review.

 

[TEG]

So when the App is buggy, you won't be able to go to the website to do things? That seems smart. /s

 

[onthebuses]

And when they block desktop user agents what will you do?

Stop using Reddit

 

[KnowsHowItWorks]

Irony...

 

[diamornte]

It's time for a competitor to rise up and replace Reddit. Are there already alternatives to Reddit out there now?

 

[elrondominium]

I'm another one of those folks who suffered an inexplicable shadow ban by Reddit's system. I'd been trying to get back online for months when I realized maybe it's better that the site is now just read-only and I don't contribute!

 

[usmaak]

I only use browser based Reddit on MPB, MBA, and iPads. I use ad blockers on all of them and never see ads. If they take away my ability to block ads in a way that can't be avoided, I'm out.

 

[noanker]

Terrible platform, rife with censorship and bias. Visit one subreddit, another one bans you just for association.

They can have it, it's a carefully curated experience so people with a narrow worldview can all agree with each other.

I never posted anything remotely against TOS, but I got banned from my local city, state, and several of my hobby subreddits. This was from commenting simple things like mass illegal immigration is not a good policy, borders should be enforced, things like that. Then, people flag your account so Reddit will send you a wellness checkup e-mail.

I have since it blocked at the router level in my house. Not getting one cent of ad revenue from my family.

The censorship and bias are out of control.

Reddit would fit right into Orwell’s 1984: a place where people happily watch each other, report the “wrong” opinions, and somehow still call it a fun community.

 

[garranhado]

The app is not good, I have a very bad experience.
When people prefer the website, tells a lot about the app.

 

[maxoakland]

Stop using Reddit

So why not stop now and send a message?

 

[maxoakland]

It's time for a competitor to rise up and replace Reddit. Are there already alternatives to Reddit out there now?

There’s one called Lemmy that’s open source. It’s good but it doesn’t have enough people yet. Great time to koin and help make it a more viable alternative!

 

[svish]

Don't like the push to use mobile app by anyone. Sometimes I prefer to use only the website. Don't know if Reddit will change their stance but I really hope they do.

 

[Steve Adams]

I ran into this with Reddit in Safari on my iPhone starting a week or two ago. Super simple workaround is to “Request Desktop Site.” The page renders almost identically to the “mobile” site and no more stupid banner.

I don't use safari but I have my browser set to desktop sites all the time. Stops alot of these shnannigans.

 

[macintologist]

Thats the only option.. but if they somehow find out, a new ban comes.

its a decent platform, tons of valuable info but their whole "moderation" is a joke. There is no appeal process that works, why bother

How would they find out

 

[macintologist]

I made a new account and it was also immediately shadowbanned. I basically can't use it from my home ISP anymore.

I've disconnected my ISP provided router for a day and still get the same public IP, AT&T says its essentially static.

I've tried posting from VPN but this also results in an immediate shadowban - they don't seem to like you using well known VPN IPs either.

I can log in to these accounts, and everything appears to be normal - but no one can see my posts, and its been verified using r/Shadowban as a test.

Why does it matter that no one can see your posts. All that matters is that you are able to lurk. Engagement on Reddit is overrated. Just browse through your subs, read some comments, then move on.

 

[Scotty_Trees]

LOL taking advice from someone that actually still uses Twitter, HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHA. No.

 

[AstonSmith]

It puzzles me when websites, in particular ones with fully-functional web apps (like Reddit, Facebook, even TikTok for a time) strong-arm people into installing programs onto their devices rather than using a browser. What do they get out of this? Can they harvest information out of the phone? Otherwise why wouldn't they be happy their website is being used either way?