Reddit Ends RSS Feeds and Public API as AI Data Revenue Grows
Reddit will end RSS feeds November 13 and its public API by March 2027, curbing scraping as AI licensing helps other revenue reach $43 million in Q2.
Summary
Reddit announced September 30, 2026, that RSS support will end November 13, citing large scale scraping and automated abuse. Moderators should migrate alerts to the Discord Relay Devvit app before shutdown, but external RSS users have no replacement. Moderators warn that losing RSS could make communities harder to manage, while users say it is their preferred way to read Reddit. RSS standardized website updates, powered blogging era readers including Google’s service before its 2013 closure, and remains available through Feedly and independent apps.
Reddit will close its public API by March 2027, removing free programmatic access for social listening products, researchers and AI assistants. Continued commercial data access will require arrangements with Reddit. The change protects user generated discussions now sold through AI licensing deals as second quarter revenue outside advertising rose 24% year over year to $43 million.
Old Reddit will receive additional safeguards against automated traffic. Within months, access will be restricted to logged-in moderators and users who accessed it during the previous 90 days. Developers of approved third party apps and bots must register by January 12, 2027, or lose API access. Reddit also announced Rules Hub progress and automod changes, although further details remain limited.
Positives
- Second quarter revenue outside advertising rose 24% year over year to $43 million as Reddit expanded data licensing.
- Discord Relay Devvit gives moderators a migration option for alerts before RSS closes November 13.
- January 12, 2027, registration preserves API access for developers operating approved third party apps and bots.
- Old Reddit safeguards target abusive scraping and automated traffic while retaining access for moderators and recent users.
Risks & concerns
- RSS support ends November 13 with no replacement for users and applications consuming feeds outside moderator communities.
- Public API access ends by March 2027, disrupting social listening products, researchers and AI assistants.
- Old Reddit access will exclude users who are not moderators or have not used the service within 90 days.
- Moderators warn that losing RSS could make Reddit communities unmanageable, while readers lose a preferred access method.