Reddit Restricts Access to 'Old Reddit' Interface Due to AI Bots
Reddit announced it will further restrict access to its older user interface, known as 'Old Reddit,' in an effort to combat scraping and automated traffic. The change means that only users who have accessed Old Reddit within the past six months—and are logged in—will be able to continue using it. Moderators remain unaffected by this restriction. The move is part of a broader strategy to limit unauthorized access, including discontinuing support for RSS feeds on November 13th due to their use in large-scale scraping activities. Reddit has previously taken steps such as blocking the Internet Archive and suing Anthropic over bot activity. The company aims to protect its data while still allowing legitimate users continued access. Reddit also outlined plans to phase out public API access by March 2027, requiring developers to transition their apps to its new Developer Platform.
