Reddit to require login for browsing as AI bots strain open access

Reddit is considering requiring users to log in to browse posts, citing pressure from AI bots scraping content, with trials planned in select non-US markets while maintaining licensed data access for AI companies. The company, led by CEO Steve Huffman, announced the proposal alongside Q3 2026 financial results, aiming to curb unauthorized automated data collection and boost advertising relevance. Most logged-out browsing is seen as vulnerable, though Reddit says it won't identify individual users. Reddit faces declining search referrals, down over one million weekly in October, and plans to relaunch an incognito mode. Huffman called the shift difficult given the platform's 20-year open-access history, with outcomes of trials to guide future policy.