Reddit Says It Won't Back Down , Despite Ongoing Protests , Over API Changes.br The Verge reports that thousands of subreddits br have continued a 48-hour blackout, extending a br protest over proposed changes to the platform's API.br As many as 5,000 subreddits are still dark, including br some of the site's most popular communities.br Earlier this week, the protests began over Reddit's br plans to change the site's API, particularly br by instating fees, which drove br many third-party apps to shut down.br Earlier this week, the protests began over Reddit's br plans to change the site's API, particularly br by instating fees, which drove br many third-party apps to shut down.br Other proposed changes being protested br include Reddit's communication with users br and how the site handles mature content.br Other proposed changes being protested br include Reddit's communication with users br and how the site handles mature content.br Initially, over 8,000 subreddits were br reportedly participating in the protest. .br The Verge reports that the proposed changes br are part of Reddit's push to make the site br profitable before an expected IPO later in 2023.br The Verge reports that the proposed changes br are part of Reddit's push to make the site br profitable before an expected IPO later in 2023.br Two things happened at the same time: br the LLM explosion put all Reddit data use br at the forefront, and our continuing efforts br to reign in costs to make Reddit self-br sustaining put a spotlight on the tens br of millions of dollars it costs us annually br to support the [third-party] apps. , Steve Huffman, Reddit CEO, via The Verge.br Two things happened at the same time: br the LLM explosion put all Reddit data use br at the forefront, and our continuing efforts br to reign in costs to make Reddit self-br sustaining put a spotlight on the tens br of millions of dollars it costs us annually br to support the [third-party] apps. , Steve Huffman, Reddit CEO, via The Verge.br We’ll continue br to be profit-driven br until profits arrive. , Steve Huffman, Reddit CEO, via The Verge.br Despite protests, Reddit has reportedly said br it will not back down from moving br forward with the proposed changes.br We spend multimillions of dollars br on hosting fees and Reddit needs to br be fairly paid to continue supporting br high-usage third-party apps, Steve Huffman, Reddit CEO, via The Verge.