Reddit to Cut RSS Feeds and Public API Access to Combat Data Scraping
Reddit announced it will discontinue RSS feeds and shut down its public API, citing concerns over large-scale data scraping. These changes aim to control data access and monetize content.
Reddit has announced significant changes to its platform, including the discontinuation of RSS feeds effective November 13 and the shutdown of its public API in March 2027. The company stated that RSS feeds have become a "common entry point for large-scale data scraping and automated abuse."
The decision to end RSS support impacts users and applications that relied on the syndication format for content aggregation. Similarly, the upcoming API shutdown will affect third-party tools, research projects, and AI assistants that depend on programmatic access to Reddit's data. Reddit indicated that entities wishing to access its data post-API shutdown will need to enter into commercial agreements.
These moves align with Reddit's recent efforts to monetize its vast user-generated content. The platform reported a 24% year-over-year increase in "other revenue" (excluding advertising) to $43 million in the second quarter. By restricting free data access, Reddit aims to leverage its data through paid partnerships.
Moderators who previously used RSS for notifications are advised to migrate to Discord relay applications on the Devvit platform. Developers building licensed third-party apps must register by January 12, 2027, to maintain API access. Access to the legacy "Old Reddit" site will also be restricted to users active within the past six months.