Reddit Plans Login Requirement to Curb Content Scraping
Summary
Reddit plans to gradually limit logged-out access, starting with a pilot in selected markets outside the U.S., to curb scraping and unauthorized data access. The company has not set rollout details and says privacy options will remain.
Key points
- Reddit plans to become a logged-in service gradually, with a pilot in selected markets outside the United States in the coming months.
- The company says most unauthorized data access occurs through logged-out pages and expects access restrictions to help curb scraping.
- The scope of restricted content, initial countries, and rollout timeline have not been determined.
- Reddit expects to keep the front page accessible and let visitors from search results or other sources view at least the page they followed.
- Reddit will continue licensing data to AI platforms and search engines through commercial agreements.
- The company says users will not have to provide real names or identification documents; it plans to restore read-only incognito mode in its app and let users opt out of personalized ads.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Reddit announced plans to gradually require users to log in for full access to its platform, partly to address content scraping.
- Impact
- Reddit plans to begin a pilot in selected markets outside the United States in the coming months. The change may limit content access for visitors without accounts, but the affected content, initial countries, and rollout timeline have not been determined. Reddit says it will not require real names or identification documents and plans to re-release read-only incognito mode; users will also be able to opt out of personalized advertising.