Reddit Now Requires Login for Old Reddit Access

Reddit has implemented a mandatory login requirement for users attempting to access old.reddit.com. This change effectively ends anonymous browsing on the legacy interface, forcing users to either authenticate their accounts or migrate to the same authenticated experience on the modern Reddit site.

Mandatory Authentication for Legacy Interface

Users have reported that attempting to access the legacy interface now triggers a login wall. The system displays a message stating, "Log in to use old Reddit > To keep Reddit safe, accounts are required to access old Reddit. Log in, or continue without an account on reddit.com."

This shift marks a significant change for long-term "lurkers" and guests who previously used the legacy interface to browse specific subreddits without creating an account.

Community Reactions and User Workarounds

The community response has been largely negative, with users expressing frustration over the loss of anonymous internet usage. Many users view this as the end of an era for open, anonymous reading.

Technical Workarounds

Users are seeking and suggesting alternative ways to access Reddit content without a login:

• JSON Fetching: One user reported creating a userscript that fetches the .json version of a URL to render a minimal, Hacker News-style UI, $\text{Hacker News-style UI}$, to bypass the traditional page load.
• Redlib Instances: Suggestions have included using instances of Redlib, an open-source alternative front-end for Reddit (e.g., safereddit.com).
• Alternative Platforms: Users have suggested migrating to other platforms such as Lemmy (old.lemmy.world) or new community-driven projects like Treehouse (treehouse.net), which aims to create a broad-scope topic forum reminiscent of the original Reddit.

Potential Motivations for the Change

While Reddit does not provide a detailed official explanation beyond the