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cover of episode The Battle to Save Reddit

The Battle to Save Reddit

2023/6/21
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On the Media
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Jason Koebler
M
Michael Loewinger
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Michael Loewinger: 本期节目讨论了Reddit版主发起的史无前例的大规模抗议活动，抗议Reddit公司计划对API访问收费。这场抗议反映了志愿版主与希望盈利的Reddit公司之间存在的巨大冲突，以及对Reddit社区文化和第三方应用的担忧。 Jason Koebler: Reddit的API收费计划将对依赖API的第三方应用造成严重打击，许多应用将被迫关闭，这其中包括许多为版主提供便利工具的应用。Reddit公司缺乏透明度和细致的收费标准，使得第三方应用开发者难以应对新的收费模式。 Steve Huffman: Reddit CEO Steve Huffman认为，对API收费是必要的，因为人工智能公司利用Reddit的数据来训练其语言模型，给Reddit公司带来了成本。他认为，此次抗议是由一些滥用权力的版主发起的，并计划对参与抗议的版主进行处罚。 Michael Loewinger: Reddit的志愿版主为平台贡献了巨大的无偿劳动，他们对特定主题充满热情，并通过制定规则和指南来塑造其版块的讨论氛围。Reddit可以被视为一种类似于“第三空间”的社交媒体平台，版主在维护社区文化和用户体验方面发挥着关键作用。 Jason Koebler: Reddit版主与其他社交媒体平台的版主不同，他们更像社区管理员、引导者和组织者，而非单纯的内容审核员。Reddit的抗议并非单纯的劳资纠纷，而是用户对平台发展方向的抗议。 Steve Huffman: Reddit CEO Steve Huffman试图通过对API收费来实现盈利目标，并试图控制网站的运营方式。他认为此次抗议活动将会过去，并不会对Reddit的长期发展造成重大影响。

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Reddit moderators from nearly 9,000 subreddits shut down their forums in protest against Reddit's decision to charge for API access, aiming to turn a profit and prepare for an IPO.

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Last Monday, Reddit moderators from nearly 9,000 subreddits shut down their forums in what might be the largest moderator-coordinated social media protest in internet history. They're battling against Reddit CEO Steve Huffman's decision to start charging for access to the platform's software framework, or API, in an attempt to spin a profit, woo investors, and eventually IPO in the second half of 2023. Although the blackout began to die down within 48 hours of its inception, over 3,000 subreddits, such as those with over 30 million followers each like r/funny, r/gaming, and r/music are still dark to this day. On this week's podcast extra, OTM correspondent Micah Loewinger) speaks with Jason Koebler), the editor-in-chief at Motherboard, Vice’s tech section, to discuss the intricacies of the protest and why he dubbed it "a battle for the soul of the human internet.”

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