Reddit will soon require users to log in to access the old.reddit.com interface. The change will roll out over the next month, according to a Reddit employee posting under the username boat-botany.
The company claims the logged-out experience of Old Reddit is a significant source of abusive scraping and automated traffic. Forcing logins provides more signal to detect rule-breaking accounts and block malicious traffic before it interferes with normal platform use.
The decision affects a user base that prefers the classic design for its navigational simplicity. Many accessed the site without logging in specifically for privacy reasons or quick convenience.
When asked why the new design isn't targeted as frequently, users noted that malicious tactics constantly evolve. One user, Nestramutat, explained that Old Reddit likely lacks the modern security stack required for the pre-emptive blocking of emerging threats, making it a softer target in a constant cat-and-mouse game.