Reddit Ends RSS Feeds and Public API, Tightening Control Over Data Prized by AI Firms
aiinsider ·
Reddit is discontinuing support for RSS feeds on November 13 and will shut down its public API by March 2027, citing issues with large-scale scraping and automated abuse. This strategic move tightens the company's control over user-generated content that has become a valuable asset through lucrative AI licensing deals. Consequently, non-advertising revenue rose significantly to $43 million in the second quarter of 2026. The API closure will impact various tools relying on programmatic access, including social listening products and AI assistants. After the shutdown, AI services wishing to utilize Reddit data must establish commercial agreements with the platform. While moderators are advised to migrate alert workflows to Discord, no direct replacement exists for general RSS usage outside of moderation tasks. Additionally, Reddit is implementing stricter safeguards for Old Reddit and requiring third-party app developers to register by January 12, 2027.
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