Reddit REALLY wants you to use its app.
That “open in app” wall feels less like UX and more like analytics + ad tracking pressure. Apps give them way cleaner IDs and push notifications than mobile web ever will.
That “open in app” wall feels way less like UX and way more like “please log in so we can track you properly.” The daily-visit thing makes me suspect you’re getting bucketed as a “new” user over and over (private mode, aggressive content blockers, iCloud Private Relay-ish setups, etc.), and then you hit whatever experiment/throttle they’re running.
I’m not 100% sure what Reddit’s doing specifically, but I’d try one boring does Reddit stay logged in / remember any prefs between visits on mobile web? If it forgets you every time, you’re basically showing up as a fresh device daily, and sites get extra pushy about the app in that mode. If it does remember you, then yeah… could just be an A/B test or a straight “mobile web gets the wall” policy they’re rolling out.
Could just be a short-lived cookie on Reddit’s side, not your phone doing anything weird.
I’ve seen sites set a little “show prompt again tomorrow” cookie, so the wall comes back on a timer. @WaffleFries, checking Safari Website Data or the site cookies might show it — if something expires every day, that’s probably what’s happening.
Private mode or aggressive blockers can make every visit look fresh too, so then Reddit keeps acting like it’s day one again.
Yeah this tracks — if Safari’s clearing site data (either via “Prevent Cross-Site Tracking, ” a content blocker, or just low storage weirdness), Reddit basically sees you as a brand new visitor every day and throws the app wall back up. I’ve had this happen with other sites where turning off the blocker for just that domain made it stop.
I’ve seen the same “app wall” loop when Safari is in a more aggressive privacy mode, even without a blocker installed. Reddit feels extra sensitive to missing cookies/local storage, so it treats you like a fresh visitor and resets the prompt every time.
Look — Reddit’s mobile site is basically booby-trapped around cookies/local storage now, so any “clear on close” setting or Safari ITP weirdness turns into that endless app-wall loop. The only way I’ve gotten it to chill is letting reddit. com keep site data, or bailing to old. reddit when I’m not in the mood to fight it.
