What is Reddit doing
I don't use Reddit anymore, but I wanted to search something that I couldn't find anywhere. This is what I saw. After killing all the other apps, Reddit now is trying to force us to use their own spyware app.
This is why they removed the apps. They want to be driving traffic through the app, and the 3rd party apps prevented that from happening.
I think the worst part is they entirely ignored the most painfully obvious solution of implementing a "reddit plus" or "reddit premium" or "reddit red" and just gated third party app access behind a $9.99/mo subscription. I have a hard time believing most reddit users' ad views are worth anywhere near that much per month. But instead they decided to burn a significant sum of goodwill on questionable premises and pissed off a significant number of power users.
The feeling I got from all of the communications was that /u/spez was jealous of Apollo and just wanted to kill off Apollo. Which would explain why they took such a scorched earth approach in trying to kill all third party apps
That is basically what they did. There are a decent amount of third party apps around that work. I personally use Narwhal.
The further we get from the whole third party app debacle, the more I think this was just a way to kill the most popular apps. The ones that people said made reddit worth using. The ones that got shouted out in Apple keynotes.
Are they just trying to divert as much traffic as possible through their app?
Yeah, there is 0 way that reddit reviews even 10% of of the content, probably even 5%, if even that. There's just no way. This is just a scare tactic to get you into their walled garden, to download their app, sign you up, and become a metric.
That is exacly what they try to achieve, satansmaggotycumfart.
But why?
Do they somehow get more personal data that way?
I thought closing access to the API was for my own protection!
Yep, if you request the desktop version you don't get that redirect.
Yep. Reddit has gone full corporate.
Pro tip: add old. in the beggining of url. Reddit still has such answers for niche questions
Still works for the NSFW stuff too
There are browser plugins that do this for you, as well.
The only browser plugin you need for Reddit is LibRedirect to automatically redirect all Reddit links to a private frontend called Redlib
I'm going to guess enabling "desktop mode" in Chrome (idk if other browsers have it) would probably work as well, but would throw off the layout most likely.
or change reddit to safereddit
Or use LibRedirect to do it automatically
You can't access old.reddit.com with VPN these days. I wouldn't be surprised if reddit killed it soon.
You can't access the normal Reddit site behind a VPN either. The only solution is to use a private frontend like Redlib with LibRedirect, to automatically redirect all Reddit links to Redlib.
Yeah but old works like crap on mobile.
Better than not working.
Also he just needs the info
Boost still works with some finagling with mods
Enshittification
The only decent way to browse Reddit nowadays is a private frontend called Redlib. You can use the LibRedirect browser extension or the UntrackMe Android app to automatically redirect all Reddit links to Redlib. It's better for privacy, since you don't need to access Reddit directly and thus your information isn't exposed, it works without JavaScript, it doesn't have ads or trackers and works behind a VPN or Tor. It also lets you view NSFW content without any limitations.
They’ve had this for a while. The cheat code is to change the url to old reddit.
Or just “request desktop website”.
On android, I would recommend using Stealth or Geddit to browse reddit. Stealth has a mode where it scrapes old.reddit.com (and bypasses the API), and Geddit uses the RSS feed to pull content instead of API.
Downside is neither app will let you interact, but I don't have any desire to generate content for reddit anyways.
Those apps' days are numbered I'm sure
They've been working since the API price change, so nearly a year now.
RedReader also still works due to their disability stuff.
The Enshitification will continue until moral improves.
After morale improves, enshittification will accelerate.
Love the absence of logic in these messages. Next time it'll be "pay $2 to continue" or "do a barrel roll to continue".
Drink a verification can to continue
do a barrel roll to continue
Reddit hasn't been that fun in a long time.
I know it has nothing to do with protecting the users, but how exactly is the app supposed to make viewing unreviewed content safer?
They make more money that way, ergo safer for investors.
no offense but who the fuck cares, you know what i mean? that shithole can enjoy the hell it has consigned itself to.
And like, why are people surprised it's only getting worse? Of course it is, we knew long ago the removal of 3rd party app was the beginning of the master plan to monetize our communities.
They're surprised because they've already gotten used to the previous thing.
the beginning of the master plan to monetize our communities.
I think it was closer to the middle of the plan.
I think what's even more annoying is when you actually do use the app, every community you visit, it pops up a notification that says "turn on notifications so you don't miss updates from this community!"
Easy fix is to update the url to use "old.reddit.com" rather than the base "www.reddit.com".
That sends you to a version of the site without a bunch of the crap.
They are doing everything they can so you download their app.
Their support site says my browser is unsupported
I already have a web app (my browser) so I’ll never download individual apps for sites (maybe tapatalk app since it covers many)
If the website doesn’t work then I just browse something else
sadfsdfasfasf
Don't think of it as them being unprofessional, think of it as them having a safety valve to relieve the pressure of some people wanting to leave Reddit for Lemmy or elsewhere, because of their bs.
Someday, when they're confident enough that they have customer retention locked in, that methodology of bypassing will be removed.
I have 0 doubt that they eventually shut old.reddit down, or they make it so unusable that it doesn't make a difference anymore if they did. Probably with some extensive regretful apology letter about how hard it became for the team to maintain, something about the future of Reddit moving forward and blah blah blah...
the thing is, the one and only purpose of this dialog is to increase metrics of engagement, like how many users download the app. they don't need to convert every mobile web user to an app user immediately. as long as that dialog is driving the engagement metrics apps, it is doing its work correctly. obviously at some point there will stop increasing engagement, so the middle managers will turn and try to squeeze a bit more by removing the loopholes, but it is not an urgent problem. it even might be intentional so they can squeeze a bit more later
the one that i am surprised at how bad it is is Twitter, that is still hosted at twitter.com . even going to x.com just redirects to twitter.com . i assume that there's some major engineering problem that is preventing them from switching, but still, it has been almost 10 months and the clown at chief really pushed for the rebranding
I'm sure they know and don't care. The gain in app installs from the users of this workaround would be nonexistent.
Or just going to "view desktop site" for mobile browsers.
That still brings up the warning, but you can click past it
Who cares?
People whose web searches turn up this.
Dear Spez: I AM NEVER EVER GOING TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FUCKING APP
Dear Steve.
He ain’t ever going to read that. Can we stop talking about our ex yet?
It's been like this for quite some time now.
And anytime you use a browser, you'll always be nagged to continue viewing through browser or use their app. It comes up so obnoxiously and I swear it slows you down. They also make the viewing experience subpar unless you use the app.
…which is itself subpar.
All I'm gonna say is I've been using my banned account and I can still browse any sub.
I literally can't interact in any way but can still see every post.
use old.reddit.com allegedly it lets you through if you click a "yes i am 18" button
I don't think it have that warning for "Unreviewed content". Sure for nsfw
Firefox+libredirect solves all your woes.
Cryptobros, e-thots, and ads. That's Reddit these days.
"Download our app and consume ads on it because... becaaaaauuuuuusssseeeeee, um, let's say SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN? Maybe terrorism? Just pick a reason you'd believe and get the app, okay?"
On iOS Safari if you "Request Desktop Website" you can get around this. I'm sure something similar you can do in your android web browser.
Works to get around the mature content warning overlay. Or use old.reddit.com I think
No need for safari, I use that option in chrome and firefox. I created an account just for lurking and use desktop mode and it "works", at least it stopped bothering to get the app or restricting content because I wasn't logged in
I haven't been back since the exodus
Me neither, at least I haven't logged into my account to browse reddit. Occasionally I click on a Reddit because it's the result of my web search. But I always use a private frontend called Redlib for that, LibRedirect automatically redirects all Reddit links to Redlib, it's really useful. UntrackMe does the same on Android, Privacy Redirect on iOS.
The Digg exodus....?
No no that was the OG I was talking about when Reddit did the big change to the api. It's what made lemmy grow so much.
Get you to download their app so they can harvest your user data.
I mean yeah, reddit fucking sucks. That's why we're all here. Stop going there.
Theyve been doing this for years
// ==UserScript==
// @name old.reddit redirect
// @description Makes sure you're using Good o'l Reddit
// @license WTFPLV2
// @version 1.1
// @author TheNH813 2018, edited by me
// @match https://www.reddit.com/r/*
// @match https://www.reddit.com/user/*
// @run-at document-start
// @grant none
// ==/UserScript==
var oldReddit = window.location.protocol + "//" + "old.reddit.com" + window.location.pathname + window.location.search + window.location.hash;
window.location.replace (oldReddit);
Edited so it still allows image preview, because old.reddit' one is broken now.
Old Reddit blocks me because I use a vpn. You get a dumb ass message about it and can’t view anything.
Just use LibRedirect with Redlib
Just change your view to desktop viewer.
You can open as a desktop page and it works... Or you know... Old.reddit
They have done this for years now - this is not new.
yeah, i mean, why do you think we're using this platform right now
What happens if you replace "www" in the URL with "old"?
They might not have the block there
VPN will be blocked.
VPN?
Lmao that's so shameless
And just intellectually dishonest. It makes no sense that it's OK to view the same content in the app but not on the web.
I don't know if this addon could help?
I didn't read all the comments here so someone else may have suggested this but for my android when I'm met with this I can open the browser options and choose desktop site to bypass it. Still annoying but every once in a while I need info goddamnit
This is nothing new. Theyve been doing this for quite a while now.
I just switch to desktop mode and never had any problem...
They're boosting their sign up numbers by putting porn behind it. I bet it's not even that racy, they just know that humans are motivated by something potentially titillating
libreddit to the rescue
Anymore it seems to be bots posting nonsense and mods banning anyone who isn't posting porn
I just woke up to my phone alarm pretty bleary and started randomly scrolling. Ended up in this thread below.
Even half asleep, none of this look like human comms to me. The whole thread is an advertisement, with undreds of unique participants.
trying to appeal to venture capitalists and investors by hiding the sketchy porn sites would be my guess, considering they got busted by cnn for underage stuff.
You can view this content in desktop mode, it's only on mobile outside the app that you can't view it
Build yourself Infinity client with own api key, it takes ~5-10 minutes and can be done from phone https://colab.research.google.com/drive/13AE8RvjnCfuBJGaACEqxeBIMo33_l-Sc?usp=sharing
Shoving their di*ks up some things and down others
I pay the developer of Now for Reddit on Android $3.99 a month and it still works. Fuck reddit.
To be fair, you’re not paying the developer. You’re paying the developer to pay Reddit.
Fuck Reddit, yet you're directly giving them money and supporting this.
Yeah, Ghostal is right: You're paying reddit.
Fuck Reddit, delete that shit and hope for Spez to get AIDS and cancer.
my guess is that net neutrality doesn't extend to wireless communication.
this is their end around by making you use their app.
This has nothing to do with NN
Old.reddit.com
It will get rid of that
I am not going to like the day they remove that.
sadfsdfasfasf
https://github.com/redlib-org/redlib There's some redirect browser addons like LibRedirect that can automatically redirect you to redlib instances.
Unfortunately they block old reddit for VPN users now
That's not true, at least not for all vpns
Gotta shuffle VPN servers until you find one that works.
is there any firefox extensions/userscripts to make it more tolerable on mobile? the buttons are always way too small.
I use "Desktop site" mode and just zoom in lol
Yes, actually. Look up Oldlander addon for Firefox.
It's new and kinda of rough but it definitely helps.
There's a beta of RES for mobile now, but I haven't tried it yet. I mostly use lemmy instead on mobile (but it's not really the same thing).
Or just request the desktop version.
Rdx.overdevs.com is another mobile frontend that works well