Reddit will terminate RSS feeds and public API access to combat scraping, with major changes set for 2026-2027.
Summary
- Reddit plans to discontinue RSS feeds on November 13, 2026, with no alternatives for users outside moderated communities.
- Public API access will cease on October 31, 2026, and all remaining access will be terminated by March 2027, accompanied by a $1 million fund to support developers migrating to Reddit's Developer Platform.
- The platform cites issues related to scraping and automated misuse, while also forming data partnerships with Google and OpenAI and pursuing legal actions against companies like Anthropic and Perplexity.
Reddit has announced the discontinuation of RSS feeds and public API access, effective in the coming years, as part of its strategy to curb automated data scraping. The RSS feeds will be disabled on November 13, 2026, followed by a complete halt of public API access by March 2027.
In a recent statement, Reddit explained, “In August, we outlined our intentions to modernize Reddit’s infrastructure, enhance moderation tools, and curb scraping and abuse by malicious users.” The platform highlighted that both RSS feeds and APIs have been crucial for many third-party applications that rely on them for content updates and data requests.
Reddit's decision is driven by concerns over scraping—automated systems that harvest large amounts of content—and other forms of abuse. New public API requests will be halted after October 31, 2026, with existing applications losing access starting January 12, 2027.
To facilitate this transition, Reddit is encouraging developers to migrate to its Developer Platform, known as Devvit, and has launched a $1 million App Migration Program. This program includes $1,000 incentives for qualifying apps and free hosting, with applications due by November 30, 2026. Over 14,000 apps and bots have already registered for the migration, with notable tools like DeltaBot and MagicEyeBot nearly completed with the transition.
For moderators currently using RSS for alerts, Reddit has suggested an alternative tool called Discord Relay. However, the company has stated that users relying on RSS feeds outside moderated communities will not have a replacement.
Additionally, Reddit will impose restrictions on Old Reddit, which will only be accessible to logged-in users who have visited the site in the past six months, while moderators will retain access. These changes reflect Reddit's broader strategy to optimize user experience while safeguarding its data and revenue streams.
The Rationale Behind the Changes
The rationale behind Reddit's decisions centers on data management and revenue generation. The platform has a vast amount of user-generated content, which it aims to protect. In 2023, Reddit began charging for API access, which led to protests from users.
In early 2024, Reddit entered a licensing agreement with Google worth approximately $60 million per year, allowing the tech giant to use Reddit content for AI training. Similar agreements were made with OpenAI. Those who did not formalize their agreements faced legal repercussions, including lawsuits against companies like Anthropic and Perplexity for unauthorized access to Reddit’s servers.
Reddit has indicated that the most significant scraping issues are linked to users accessing Old Reddit without logging in, complicating efforts to prevent automated systems that mimic human activity. Consequently, enforcing a login requirement has become a priority.
These changes may lead to the loss of useful tools for regular users, such as reminder bots and moderation aids, particularly if developers do not migrate in time. The deadlines for migration are set for January 12, 2027, for unregistered applications and November 30, 2026, for the migration fund applications.
