Reddit to require login for most content in major platform shift

Reddit will require users to log in to browse most of its content, a major shift announced by CEO Steve Huffman on October 29. The change aims to protect data from unauthorized AI scraping and boost advertising revenue. Initial tests are planned in selected markets outside the U.S. in coming months. AI companies will still access data through paid licensing agreements, while logged-in users enable better targeted ads and longer sessions, as over 80% of monetization already comes from them. Reddit's homepage, direct links, and search engine results will remain accessible without an account. The community fears losing easy access to information, while the company also faces declining search engine referrals, down over one million weekly in October.