Reddit announced a suite of access restrictions that will end support for RSS feeds on November 13 and conclude public API access in March 2027. The company stated it will limit access to Old Reddit to logged-in users who have used the platform within the last six months.

The changes affect the legacy version of the site, which was first launched in 2005. Requiring login credentials impacts approximately 85% of active Old Reddit users based on internal metrics. Logged-in moderators will retain access to Old Reddit without the recent usage requirement.

Reddit recommended that moderators shift to the Discord Relay Devvit app for alerts previously handled by RSS. This tool was first introduced by Reddit in 2023. The company stated there is no replacement for RSS feeds used for content outside of moderated communities.

"We know RSS has been a beloved part of the open web for a long time, and we’re grateful to everyone who used it to stay connected to Reddit," Reddit said. The company added that RSS has become a "common surface for large-scale scraping and automated abuse." Reddit spokesperson Rosa Kim stated via email that the changes are about limiting unauthenticated access and reducing automated abuse, not removing the platform for people and moderators who rely on it.

Developers face a separate deadline regarding programmatic access. Reddit will remove API access for developers who have not registered their apps by January 12, 2027. This follows a shift in 2023 when Reddit began charging for API access.

Reddit reported that its "other revenue" grew 24% year-over-year to $43 million in the second quarter. The decision to restrict data access follows other actions, including blocking the Internet Archive in 2024 and suing AI companies like Anthropic in 2024 for unauthorized use of its data in training AI models.

Why It Matters

The restrictions represent a continued effort by Reddit to control data distribution and monetize platform access. By ending free RSS feeds and public API access, the company directs users toward authenticated channels and paid developer models. The financial growth in "other revenue" suggests an economic incentive to limit free data extraction while promoting proprietary tools.

These measures alter how third-party applications and automated tools interact with Reddit conversations. The removal of RSS support eliminates a standard method for tracking content outside moderated communities. Requiring login for Old Reddit shifts the user base toward authenticated accounts, affecting the majority of legacy interface users.

Timeline

In May 2025, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman stated that the company would keep Old Reddit online as long as people are using it. Later, Reddit announced that RSS support will cease on November 13, 2026, and public API access will end by March 2027, impacting tools that used it for programmatic access to Reddit conversations.

What's New

Later reporting indicates that Reddit CEO Steve Huffman stated in May 2025 that the company would keep Old Reddit online as long as people are using it, contradicting later announcements about limiting access. Additional details show that Reddit announced that it will begin requiring all users to log in to access Old Reddit, a move that affects approximately 85% of active Old Reddit users based on internal metrics. Reddit stated that the six-month usage window for Old Reddit access covers "the vast majority of all Old Reddit users." Reddit spokesperson Rosa Kim stated via email that the changes to Old Reddit are about limiting unauthenticated access and reducing automated abuse, not removing the platform for people and moderators who rely on it.

Further context reveals that Reddit’s decision to end RSS support in November 2026 follows a pattern of restricting public access to its data, including blocking the Internet Archive in 2024 and suing AI companies like Anthropic. Reddit announced that RSS support will cease on November 13, 2026, and public API access will end by March 2027, impacting tools that used it for programmatic access to Reddit conversations. Old Reddit, the legacy version of the platform, was first launched in 2005 and has been a core part of Reddit's identity for over 17 years.