The backlash over Reddit’s API modifications is far from done, with subreddits like r/pics with over 30 million users labelling themselves NSFW (not safe for work), thereby blocking Reddit from displaying adverts alongside their postings.
The crisis began in mid-June, when 6,500 subreddits banded together to call for a blackout in protest of Reddit’s intention to commercialise API access which forced third-party apps such as Apollo to close owing to prohibitively high costs.
r/pics’ opposition was centred on comedian John Oliver and his show, Last Week Tonight. Initially, just photographs of Oliver were permitted on the subreddit, but the restrictions were quickly amended to enable any material involving the performer, including sexy fan writing.
In a “open letter,” the administrators of r/pics advised members of the dangers of excessive language. They joked that labelling the group NSFW would deprive millions of users of John Oliver’s presence on their screens, preventing Reddit from displaying adverts alongside their content.
Marking a community as NSFW as a protest has caused problems in the past, with Reddit removing moderators as a result. As a result, r/pics stated that any modifications will be made to comply with Reddit’s rules, not as an act of defiance.
The sources for this piece include an article in Mashable.