This is the main reason I completely ditched Reddit, if you use the new Reddit interface instead of the old one (old.reddit.com), you’ll see a constant request being made to “https://www.reddit.com/svc/shreddit/events” (open your DevTools > Network tab, can’t see on Firefox idk why).
The problem is, if you add this to your Ublock Origin filters the website won’t load properly, that’s why uBO team didn’t block it already.
You’ll notice this request isn’t only being made from a interval but also when you do basically any action in the site, like pausing or resuming a video (send timestamps of when did you pause or resumed).
It sends other kind of data like what subjects you’re seeing when closed a tab or the related subjects of a post you click, this all can be used to trace a perfect profile of you and things you like.
You can avoid that by using the old.reddit but it still has the same kind of tracker, even tho you can block it here without major issues.
By my analysis, old Reddit interface does the same but to a random URL path that always starts with “reddit.com/api/something”. Ex.: reddit.com/api/friends So you can block anything that starts with “www.reddit.com/api” in your custom filters (after all you’re using old.reddit.com), then you’re mostly free from Reddit trackers (more or less). Side effect is, you won’t be able to use the chat in the old interface.
Sad. There was a time when Reddit, despite all its flaws, was great for connecting with obscure interests and getting inside knowledge on niche topics. It made small communities feel big. I find myself on Reddit occasionally, usually just the "you’ve been blocked by network security ;-) page, but I don’t feel the same way on Reddit anymore. The more I hear about their behavior in the background, the less I want to read or contribute in the foreground. Lemmy captures some of the vibes of reddit, but the in-depth, obscure communites, were kind of shattered. I’m slowly discovering some cool forums and stuff that have weathered the web centralization era.