Reddit experimenting with blocking mobile browsers

As quoted from the linked post.

It looks like you’re part of one of our experiments. The logged-in mobile web experience is currently unavailable for a portion of users. To access the site you can log on via desktop, the mobile apps, or wait for the experiment to conclude.

This is separate from the API issue. This will actually BLOCK you from even viewing reddit on your phone without using the official app.

Archive.org link in case the post is removed.

https://web.archive.org/save/https%3A%2F%2Fold.reddit.com%2Fr%2Fhelp%2Fcomments%2F135tly1%2Fhelpdid_reddit_just_destroy_mobile_browser_access%2Fjim40zg%2F

ReVanced,

I am not aware of Reddit experimenting with blocking mobile browsers. However, it’s important to note that information and developments can change over time.

To get the most accurate and up-to-date information about Reddit’s policies or any potential changes related to blocking mobile browsers, I recommend checking official Reddit announcements, news articles, or Reddit community discussions that might provide insights into any recent developments. Additionally, you can visit Reddit’s official website or their support pages for any official statements regarding this matter.

iuseit,

Reddit is officially on a bankruptcy speedrun.

james,

I can honestly say since Twitter did this I’ve hardly ever used it

damipereira,

Holy shit, this would be a nightmare for me. I never used and will never used any app, because they do not support my main usecase, which is, search for a topic, open 20 tabs about it, check them one by one, restart. They were very intense about "try the app!", but this is next level.

neur0g33k,

Reddit behavior is impressive given that all their content is user generated. I'm impressed by the level of blatant disregard for the people that actually makes you money. This is mastery of a shameful level if not giving a single fuck and some people would just still be ok to continue using that platform.

5redie8,

Of course they are, gotta make everyone use the shitty app to farm as much data as possible!

moose_cannon,

I literally just had an instance of opening a nsfw reddit link from a Google search and it informed me that I could only see nsfw posts in the app...

floofloof,

It has been that way for a while. Anything where you have to confirm you're over 18 will not display unless you're logged in.

thoralf,
@thoralf@discuss.tchncs.de avatar

It almost looks like Reddit is trying to commit suicide in the fastest possible way.

I still have an account there. But I will delete it the moment the Apollo goes dark.

kelroy,

Unfortunately, non of this will matter. There are too many mindless zombies OK with consuming garbage content.

JuicyGyri,

That's okay, kinda a fresh start for the rest of us who do migrate! It's an evolution process and we are adapting and so hopefully reap the benefits of quality content and real interactions!

dystop,
@dystop@lemmy.world avatar

ahahaha the reason I finally stopped using Yelp was because their mobile site would only load part of a review and would force redirect to their app if you tried to expand on any reviews. Rather than download the app or change user agent, I just gave up.

every website and their mother wants you to download their app nowadays.

Rakust,

I'm fine with this. it'll make going on reddit even less appealing for me.

Tempiz,
@Tempiz@sh.itjust.works avatar

Not surprised. They need to milk every last drop of revenue from their users free content for the upcoming IPO.

xylene,

I think your link is wrong (that's the one that causes Archive.org to try a new capture). I got it working with this:

https://web.archive.org/web/20230613091704/https://old.reddit.com/r/help/comments/135tly1/helpdid_reddit_just_destroy_mobile_browser_access/jim40zg/

Pekka,
@Pekka@feddit.nl avatar

They already made the mobile site practically unusable by constantly reminding you to use the app. The mobile browsing experience was just terrible. They can just show the same adds in the mobile browser...

err53,

I'd guess they're trying to proactively prevent people from using adblock on mobile browsers.

troyunrau,
@troyunrau@lemmy.ca avatar

Ironically, I'd just set my browser to desktop mode, and use the old reddit desktop interface. The more they modernized, the more entrenched I become.

Wrathofcon,

Are they legally allowed to just do that? Just shadow ban certain users temporarily for an 'experiment'?

If so... Why is that legally allowed??

MrMonkey,

Why on earth would it be illegal? What possible law could have been broken? You don't have a "right" to visit reddit with a mobile browser. They have the right to restrict access as they see fit.

planish,

A lot of this sort of A/B testing has the character of a psychology experiment. If it were conducted by a reputable research lab, it would have to pass an instituational review board who would weigh in on whether it was an ethical experiment, and among other things research subjects would always have the right to decline to participate in the experiment.

But when private companies do it, nobody holds them to the same standard of ethics in their human experimentation. But clearly people's right not to be subject to psychological experiments without their consent is being violated.

MrScottyTay,

A/B testing always happens in software

atzanteol,

But clearly people's right not to be subject to psychological experiments without their consent is being violated.

I'm not sure if this is sarcasm or not...

planish,

No I really mean it. That's not a right that's, like, in the Constitution, but it's a principle of academic psychology and tech companies trample all over it. If it's just, like, which button design is better or what CDN makes the page load faster, it's mostly fine, but when they start asking questions like "what happens if we only show people the sad posts", it's really not fine.

SleepyHarry,

Why would it be illegal? It's shitty and it's obvious what they're trying to do, but I can't fathom what law from any jurisdiction this would violate.

confusedwiseman,

Consider who "owns" Reddit. It's not a public service/utility. It turns out people can do what they want with things they own.

*save for lots of exceptions based on your wealth tier...

Pee_on_tech,

The mobile browsing experience was a huge shitshow anyway. Randomly refreshing webpage, comments never posting or posting 5 times, expanding comments would work sometimes. They actively nuked it to make people use the reddit app. Fuck them

vivia,

Well, at least you could send a link to a friend who doesn't have a Reddit account and they could view it. Now they'd be greeted with a friendly "install the app or get out" screen, and let's be real, they wouldn't install a whole app just to view the occasional link you'd send them.

SevFTW,

Randomly refreshing webpage

What is it with almost every modern website constantly refreshing until it errors out on my phone? I always just assumed it was because I blocked trackers and they just gave up trying to display their cancerous page.

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