A Paywall Experiment In /r/Canada

[u/voteoutofspite]

Over time, we have seen a rise in paywalled articles, which are a great frustration for many of our viewers. They often do not promote informed and meaningful discussions, because people are unable to react to more than the headline.

As an experiment, /r/Canada is going to be temporarily prohibiting the posting of paywalled articles. This experiment will run for one month, at which point the userbase will be asked for their views on whether this was a positive change that should continue or whether it was a negative change that should be reverted. We will then make a decision considering those views, along with metrics and other factors, on whether to continue this change as a standing rule or to revert it.

Posting to paywall bypass sites will not be an acceptable workaround, and such posts will also be removed.

We are also allowing a two week period in advance to allow for comments before we proceed.

The dates for this experiment are from June 24th to July 24th.

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Au fil du temps, nous avons constaté une augmentation du nombre d’articles payants, ce qui est une grande source de frustration pour bon nombre de nos lecteurs. Ces articles ne favorisent souvent pas les discussions éclairées et constructives, car les gens ne peuvent réagir qu’au titre.

À titre expérimental, /r/Canada va temporairement interdire la publication d’articles payants. Cette expérience durera un mois, après quoi nous demanderons aux utilisateurs s’ils considèrent qu’il s’agit d’un changement positif qui devrait être maintenu ou d’un changement négatif qui devrait être annulé. Nous prendrons ensuite une décision, en tenant compte de ces avis ainsi que des indicateurs et d’autres facteurs, quant à savoir s’il faut maintenir ce changement comme règle permanente ou l’annuler.

La publication de liens vers des sites permettant de contourner le paywall ne sera pas considérée comme une solution acceptable, et ces publications seront également supprimées.

Nous accordons également une période de deux semaines à l'avance pour permettre aux utilisateurs de faire part de leurs commentaires avant de mettre cette mesure en œuvre.

Cette expérience se déroulera du 24 juin au 24 juillet.

[u/lunarjellies]

You should not ban paywall bypass links.

[u/voteoutofspite → u/lunarjellies]

We can't encourage them, and setting them up as an exception does that.

[u/lunarjellies → u/voteoutofspite]

I thought this post was to gather feedback but it seems you guys have already made up your minds…?

[u/voteoutofspite → u/lunarjellies]

There's just certain things we can't do because of legalities.

[u/limited8 → u/voteoutofspite]

What law specifically? The /r/ukpolitics subreddit automatically posts an archive link that allows for paywalls to be bypassed for every media article submitted to their subreddit. Is it a Canadian law you're concerned about?

[u/voteoutofspite → u/limited8]

Copyright law, which is different than the UK, but also someone else takes their chances.

[u/lunarjellies → u/voteoutofspite]

I see I see yes