[mattboardman]

I believe the API changes are not about third party apps or LLMs (at least directly). I think it's all about bots and spam. They only want to do business with real enterprises through their API. This raises the value of purchasing real ads through their platform vs buying upvotes and other subversive ads on grey markets. Once the API access is restricted I think there will be a huge dropoff in spam and bot accounts. You'll have to scrape endpoints and fight the built in anti spam detection on the app/website in order to game the system versus using the free highly available API that has fewer built in protections.

[genmud]

In my experience bots and spam don't typically use APIs because they want to appear like a genuine user.

[mattboardman]

What if it were so easy to blend in through the APIs bc enough real users are on third party apps that use the APIs?

[kuhewa]

Is that how they've been selling the change?

[mattboardman]

I think they've done everything to steer the conversation away from the topic of bots, spam, and grey market ads. If reddit is selling ad space but you can get it cheaper via vote bots, why would anyone buy ad space through reddit?