Like a dictatorial state, Reddit wants to put an end to protests on the platform as soon as possible, turning a deaf ear to the requests of a group of moderators and pressuring subreddits that went “dark” to cease being private and reopen to the public.
The Verge has obtained several messages from the company in which Reddit sets deadlines for protesting moderators regarding the changes to Reddit’s API policies, and demands their reopening plans, stating that communities cannot remain closed.
In these messages, Reddit states that the deadline would end this Thursday afternoon and hints that this would be the final warning phase before taking action against moderators who keep their subreddits closed, although the company has not specified the exact repercussions.
“This community remaining closed to its (millions of) members cannot continue” beyond the deadline, wrote administrator ModCodeofConduct (a Reddit employee) in a note to one of the largest private communities on Reddit. The administrator escalated the tone even further after a moderator responded, stating that “(millions of) members have lost full access to this community, and that won’t continue.”
“Taking time to consider future moderation plans is fine, but that should be done in at least a ‘restricted’ environment,” the administrator said, further demonstrating Reddit’s lack of interest in the reasons behind the protests and in establishing communication bridges. “This community will not remain private beyond the deadline we have allowed for confirmation of plans here.”
Following constant pressure from Reddit to end subreddit “blackouts,” some communities have already reopened or restricted their access out of fear that the platform will replace the moderators (whom they refer to as “squatters of subreddits”) with unknown individuals. Restricted communities can still be read, but only certain users are allowed to post.
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