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> During the call they said that third party apps like RedReader represent something like an "opportunity cost" for them, as they are unable to gather revenue d

> During the call they said that third party apps like RedReader represent something like an "opportunity cost" for them, as they are unable to gather revenue directly from these users. They say that usage of third party apps is increasing over time, and this is a threat to them. They raised the question of what would happen if such apps became the majority Wow, an amazing example of "missing the point." If the use of 3rd party apps is increasing over time versus the official app, there is something wrong with the official app and the proper thing to do is fix that. Restricting 3rd party access is just delaying the inevitable.

crote 3y ago
The problem is that Reddit's incentives are directly opposed to their users. Advertisers demand a lot of ads, a continuous drive for "engagement", and bland cookie-cutter content. Users want to hang around in their own weird little subreddits - without being bothered with ads or "useful" recommendations. It is impossible to combine the two, so the official Reddit app can never satisfy the user base.
- icehawk 3y ago
  But, additionally, advertisers aren't going to play for a platform that has no users. You have to cater to them in some way shape or form or they're going to find a platform that does. That's how reddit got popular in the first place.
- rhaksw 3y ago
  I'm not sure how ads and eyeballs are incompatible. The internet has been running on ads since forever. Yeah I don't like them but I understand why they're there.
- tomjen3 3y ago
  Advertisers need to select subreddits that fit their niche better. Yes there is porn on reddit, but that shouldn't stop amazon from advertising on /r/books. Not all subreddits are equally suited for ads, but some of the subreddits are going to get people to stay. So if you come for /r/gonewild, you might end up going to /r/books and buy a nice e-reader. Now if advertisers don't, or can't, target their ads to nices, then those ads don't need to be on reddit in the first place, and the people making those campaigns should not work in marketing.
- JCharante 3y ago
  I don't mind ads at all, it's just that the official reddit app is garbage and slow like the GTA V Online loading screen
neurostimulant 3y ago
Companies often advertise open API access to increase usage and growth, and then cut it off once the growth from those open API access is less than the potential monetary gain from closing the ecosystem down (ads from their mobile clients, charging 3rd party clients for API access, etc). It's suck, but I'm actually surprised it took this long for Reddit to finally do it.
jacooper 3y ago
Its ads, I use a third party client because it has no ads and no trackers. They won't do that, they want to collect souch data so they can sell it or use it for ad targeting.
- Root_Denied 3y ago
  A lot of content on reddit these days is advertising that is pretending to be organic content anyway. It's nigh impossible to completely filter out the astroturfing that happens.
  - filoleg 3y ago
    You can just go for the allow-list approach (only reading the subs and niches you care about) instead of the block-list approach (where you read r/all and try to filter out the astroturfed material and advertising). However, you might be out of luck if your niche/hobby is very mainstream popular and has a large following on reddit as well (e.g., marvel comics or general stuff like world politics). As someone who mostly reads just a few smaller subs, none of the astroturfing gets to me. As soon as I check r/all though, especially comments on popular posts, it instantly reminds me of all that garbage.
- jacooper 3y ago
  So much*

crote 3y ago

The problem is that Reddit's incentives are directly opposed to their users. Advertisers demand a lot of ads, a continuous drive for "engagement", and bland cookie-cutter content. Users want to hang around in their own weird little subreddits - without being bothered with ads or "useful" recommendations. It is impossible to combine the two, so the official Reddit app can never satisfy the user base.

icehawk 3y ago
But, additionally, advertisers aren't going to play for a platform that has no users. You have to cater to them in some way shape or form or they're going to find a platform that does. That's how reddit got popular in the first place.
rhaksw 3y ago
I'm not sure how ads and eyeballs are incompatible. The internet has been running on ads since forever. Yeah I don't like them but I understand why they're there.
tomjen3 3y ago
Advertisers need to select subreddits that fit their niche better. Yes there is porn on reddit, but that shouldn't stop amazon from advertising on /r/books. Not all subreddits are equally suited for ads, but some of the subreddits are going to get people to stay. So if you come for /r/gonewild, you might end up going to /r/books and buy a nice e-reader. Now if advertisers don't, or can't, target their ads to nices, then those ads don't need to be on reddit in the first place, and the people making those campaigns should not work in marketing.
JCharante 3y ago
I don't mind ads at all, it's just that the official reddit app is garbage and slow like the GTA V Online loading screen

neurostimulant 3y ago

Companies often advertise open API access to increase usage and growth, and then cut it off once the growth from those open API access is less than the potential monetary gain from closing the ecosystem down (ads from their mobile clients, charging 3rd party clients for API access, etc). It's suck, but I'm actually surprised it took this long for Reddit to finally do it.

jacooper 3y ago

Its ads, I use a third party client because it has no ads and no trackers. They won't do that, they want to collect souch data so they can sell it or use it for ad targeting.

Root_Denied 3y ago
A lot of content on reddit these days is advertising that is pretending to be organic content anyway. It's nigh impossible to completely filter out the astroturfing that happens.
- filoleg 3y ago
  You can just go for the allow-list approach (only reading the subs and niches you care about) instead of the block-list approach (where you read r/all and try to filter out the astroturfed material and advertising). However, you might be out of luck if your niche/hobby is very mainstream popular and has a large following on reddit as well (e.g., marvel comics or general stuff like world politics). As someone who mostly reads just a few smaller subs, none of the astroturfing gets to me. As soon as I check r/all though, especially comments on popular posts, it instantly reminds me of all that garbage.
jacooper 3y ago
So much*