Reddit Tightens Old Reddit Access and Is Killing RSS and Public API Over AI Scraping and Spam

Reddit is tightening its grip on how users, bots, and third-party tools access the platform. The company has announced further restrictions for Old Reddit, plans to end RSS support, and a broader transition away from its public API as it continues its crackdown on automated scraping and abuse.

Old Reddit access is getting another restriction

Starting in the coming months, Reddit will limit Old Reddit access to logged-in users who have used the legacy site within the previous six months. Moderators will be exempt as long as they remain logged in. Reddit says the move is intended to keep Old Reddit available for people who actually use it while reducing automated abuse.

This follows the login requirement Reddit introduced earlier this year. The company previously said that Old Reddit’s logged-out experience was a significant source of scraping and automated traffic. Reddit has also confirmed that RSS support will end on November 13, 2026. The company says RSS has become a common surface for large-scale scraping and automated abuse. Moderators will be directed toward supported alternatives such as Devvit apps for certain workflows.

Reddit is also moving away from its public API

The changes extend beyond Old Reddit and RSS. Reddit says it will gradually restrict new public API requests and require third-party apps to transition to its Developer Platform. Existing apps are being asked to register, with Reddit’s developer documentation stating that remaining public API access will end in March 2027. The company has increasingly positioned these changes as part of its effort to protect Reddit from scraping, spam, and unauthorized AI data collection.