Hacker News Reader

Comment by Jackim | Hacker News Reader

The developers aren't asking for a free API, just one that is justified based on reddit's costs.

The problem is people think of this in terms of "cost to keep the server on that serves an API request" and not the opportunity cost for ad engagement that actually makes the business viable.

Also the opportunity cost of optics… why is the overall user experience so much better with these apps?

Sure, but there's also the value that the users create using these apps, and drive engagement to reddit. Not to mention the insane amount of volunteer mod work, many of who use unofficial apps.

> Sure, but there's also the value that the users create using these apps, and drive engagement to reddit.

This is what people said about third-party Twitter apps, yet all of those power users and brands are still there, except the ones who are ideologically opposed to Elon (and were leaving anyway). It doesn't really seem to have made a difference.

> It doesn't really seem to have made a difference.

Twitter is worth around a third of what Elon paid for it. I'm assuming you're happy to just assert that 2/3 of it's lost value is just those "who were leaving anyway" and changes like those to third party apps had no impact?

It’s mostly worth a third of what he paid for it because he paid way too much. But the actual value it’s lost is mostly around content moderation decisions and Elon’s own posting, not third-party apps.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com