I really don't think this is going to have the effect that X thinks it will have. I've always said that if XCancel and Nitter get taken down, I'm not going to suddenly decide to make an X account--I'm just going to stop reading their content.
Same for old.reddit.com. If they kill it, I'm not going to give in and create an account--I'm just going to stop visiting.
They have killed old.reddit now. It forces you (or at least me) to login. Same with regular Reddit. Most threads I get an authwall after the top comment.
I use proxy software like redlib and teddit. The browser extension LibRedirect[1] makes these easy to use without conscious thought. They're read-only, but if you were going to post something, you'd have to sign in anyway.
I agree. I think of these alternatives as off-ramps, not replacements. In 2023 I ditched my Reddit and Twitter accounts thinking it would be very difficult. Today, the idea of losing the off-ramps no longer bothers me.
They make money selling data with your info in it. That is why they care.
They will eventually limit you to app only usage where they can grab more information.
I started using Reddit after the Digg 4 fiasco. I mostly lurk. I like things like the localllama subreddit. If I log in to contribute it’s a high effort post with good information.
Reddit can go ahead and extract as much value as possible by turning their site into a slop factory. I won’t be around to see it. I haven’t visited for a week after near daily use for 15 years.
Same for old.reddit.com. If they kill it, I'm not going to give in and create an account--I'm just going to stop visiting.