Reddit plans to require all visitors to log in with an account, ending two decades of anonymous browsing to curb automated bots and unauthorized AI data scraping during logged-out sessions.
Tests will begin outside the US in the coming months.
The company's CEO, Steve Huffman, announced the change ahead of the company's financial report. He explained that the move is aimed at limiting automated programs that collect massive amounts of data to train artificial intelligence systems, as unauthorized copying mainly occurs when users are not logged in.
What's changing for visitors
While Reddit will continue to offer data to partners through formal agreements, such as with Google, it is seeking to stop rampant copying. The company had already taken the first steps this year, requiring a login to the older version of the site and restricting access from mobile devices.
In addition to protecting content, requiring login will help Reddit deliver more personalized content and better target ads. Huffman explained that users will simply need to log in to an account, without revealing their real identity or personal information.
When will the changes be implemented?
Reddit plans to test the new requirement in countries outside the United States in the coming months. The company is also considering some exceptions, such as whether the main page will remain accessible offline.
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