Reddit is making changes in its API pricing to consider non-commercial apps catering to the accessibility needs of users. However, the r/Blind subreddit, which is joining the protest next week, says concerns remain unanswered.
Reddit’s API pricing made noise recently, with third-party apps fearing possible shutdown. Many communities voiced concerns regarding the matter, and it seems Reddit is now making some exceptions to this. According to a report from The Verge, the company contacted “select developers of non-commercial apps that address accessibility needs and offered them exemptions from our large-scale pricing terms.”
However, r/blind moderators are expressing doubt about Reddit’s statements to The Verge. “We have not had clarification on Reddit’s definitions of ‘accessibility focused apps’ or any process to determine apps that qualify,” the moderator shared. “There is no clarification on ‘non-comercial apps,’ given the current model of the apps listed by The Verge.”
The post went on to say that r/blind and u/rumster subreddits have been trying to contact Reddit over accessibility issues “over the past 3 years” with “no substantive response” from the company. The post added that another moderator had talks with Reddit, but “as of the current time, our concerns have gone unheard, and Reddit remains firm.”
“We have strong concerns that Reddit lacks expertise to consider the varying access needs of the blind and visually impaired community,” the moderator added.
The comment follows the r/Blind subreddit’s message, explaining how the API pricing would affect mods and communities relying on accessibility features from third-party apps.
On May 31, 2023, Reddit announced they were raising the price to make calls to their API from being free to a level that will kill every third party app on Reddit, from Apollo, to Dystopia, to Reddit for Blind, to Luna for Reddit, to BaconReader. Even if you don’t use any of those apps, this is a step toward killing other ways of customizing Reddit, such as the use of the old.reddit.com desktop interface. This doesn’t only impact your ability to access Reddit in a fluid, customizable, and efficient way; many of us on the mod team are also blind, and we depend on those third party apps to make sure that this community remains a safe, fun, and productive place. Unfortunately, new Reddit, and the official Reddit apps, just don’t provide us with the levels of accessibility we need in order to continue effectively running this community. As well, the Transcribers of Reddit, the many dedicated folks who volunteer to transcribe and describe thousands and thousands of images on Reddit, may also be unable to operate.
