this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2023
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I hope the people who are willing to pay a monthly subscription on reddit are a very miniscule portion of the user base.
Here's the thing, reddit hopes so too. Reddit's goal isn't to make money on 3rd party apps, it's to price the api high enough to draw people to their free ad riddled dumpster fire of an app. It's the same reason you can't get nsfw subs on the api.
You can get nsfw subs on RedReader because Reddit refuses to spend money on accessibility
For once I'm with reddit (on people using third party apps but reasons are different where reddit wanted to no longer compete with third party apps, and I don't want people giving reddit money after the end of the protest). I'd prefer third party apps be dead for good if mobile plan type subscriptions are necessary to exist (by this I mean the third party apps need subscriptions to exist because of reddit's decision to charge for api which they aren't going to change because people were unwilling to quit during the protest, and showed reddit they are too addicted to stay away. So now the aftermath for users is either pay or don't, and I'd rather people not pay reddit money. Better off quitting mobile use than pay money is my stance.).
So the few hold outs now either give into using reddit app like reddit wants or go through the process of getting third party apps to work for free. Or use the website or preferably move to not contributing to reddit anymore through mobile, and just moving to lurker status through rss or accountless apps like Stealth for Android.
"Necessary to exist" is a bit of a stretch. Reddit is vastly overcharging for the api, as evidenced by what other sites charge apps for similar service.
Reddit charging so much for api access is them solving a problem they invented with the express purpose of killing free 3rd party apps.
Saying you're with reddit on this is essentially saying you like the way they're handling the problem they created to benefit themselves.
I just have yet to be convinced that paying to use it is a good thing regardless of reddit's intention.
I only see the grip reddit on its users where even negative users are still dedicated to point of being willing to pay access reddit. Which is nice dedication to see for Reddit where all the vocal talk has turned out to be nothing but talk.
Not sure I even understand your point.
And Lemmy wouldn't be as popular as it is now (along with other sites like Tildes getting a huge spike in users) unless people switched away from Reddit. So I don't think it was all talk.
If you want proof that a lot of power users left Reddit, just look at the front page. Lots and lots of garbage subs that have a theme of "am I ugly" or "rate me."
I'm not sure about your point either. Is it advocating for paying reddit for api usage through third party apps?
Mine was just that I wish people would stop giving in and paying to use reddit. Protest is over. It's now either people are paying for Reddit api or they aren't and I'd rather they didn't.
I'm not advocating for paying for the api. There are a few ways to use reddit's api without paying for it. All I'm saying is that you're paying for reddit no matter what. If it's not through a third party app, it's ads.
What I said earlier, and to your point of "people are either paying for reddit api or they aren't" is that ditching the third party app is the entire purpose of the move reddit did. Whether or not you agree with the new structure, standing with reddit is supporting the deterioration of the site in favor of reddit making more money.
(Also, wolf359 isn't me. They responded, but I'm also responding)
I'm saying whether people agree with the new structure or not doesn't matter anymore, since reddit has made their decision and isn't going to roll it back. It is what it is. Changing reddit's mind is over.
People either pay to use the api or don't. And my meaning of standing with reddit is that Id rather people not pay to use reddit. Just happens to be either reasoning of reddit's being to get rid of third party apps or mine of don't give reddit money by paying for third party apps leads to not using third party apps.
Browser use costs nothing, so that's route I push for if having to comment while on mobile. There's local dns or adblockers on mobile, so ads don't matter. Whatever excuses people use to pay for third party apps it just signals to me that it's the reason why the protest failed because they may be vocal about giving reasons for why reddit is in the wrong, but not actually able to make the decision of limiting use. They showed reddit they are loyal users even if disgruntled.
You seem to forget that without third party apps we would not have had a mobile Reddit experience for a long long time. The official Reddit app, in fact, was once a third party app. The subscription is only necessary because Reddit decided to nuke all other apps by pricing them out of the game. You really shouldn't side with Reddit on this one
When I say side with reddit it's just that on the part of being against people using third party apps we are on the same page.
Reason is different. Reddit wants to get rid of third party apps. Me because I don't want people to pay Reddit api access. There is no changing reddit's mind anymore. The api protest is over. Either you are rewarding reddit with money or you aren't.
People being so addicted they have to pay to use a mobile app instead of quitting at least on mobile, and moving to browser if they really have to doesn't come across as some stance to me. It just comes across like people who complain about broken video game launches while being the first to pre-order.
At this point the situation is what it is because people don't do the simple thing of quitting. All these reasoning for why they want to pay for third party access seem empty when their actions are why the third party api protest ended in failure, and the ones willing to pay are one of the bigger culprits with how they can't stay away.
I also find disgusting that people have to pay to use the Reddit app of their choice. It sucks. Rewarding Reddit for their outrageous stance is bad.
These folks, however, are willing to pay a subscription, receive ads and not have any NSFW communities. Imagine how bad the official app is that people would rather pay for less content. Imagine defending that these people shouldn't be able to have alternatives that suit them better. Jeez.
The people don't want to do the simple thing of quitting, but that's because through their manipulative actions places like Reddit have become essential in some people's lives. I don't blame the people addicted for creating cigarettes, I see it similar to that. There are many well researched techniques companies like Reddit use to keep people using their services. It's a bigger issue than the people addicted, but I do agree with your general point.
Reason I have difficulty empathizing is because I'm in the same boat as them as being a reddit user. It's not like I'm expecting them to do something hard like a complete boycott of reddit, but just stop reddit mobile use whether its the official app or subscription options. And even provided options like rss for alerts and apps like Stealth for Android for lurking use which is a non account option where you can still get a custom feed and save posts with the only feature not being able to comment.
It's like saying just cut down smoking during the morning. So I don't think it's that demanding of an ask when it isn't even a boycott, but just saying to cut back a little.
Likely yes, because it seems most of the people use the atrocious official client instead of third party client. And access through that is of course still free, well, paid by ads obviously.
I have noticed there are some people who love spending money on internet services. Like they genuinely enjoy it and flex about it.
Honestly, I feel that way too but for independent creators, mostly open source things.