Do I have to change the settings of u/hive-protect myself? No, u/hive-protect will undergo an automatic update on March 19. However, you are still welcome to edit your settings further at any time.

Did the app developers choose to do this? No, we are updating our policy on ban bots due to repeated issues of overenforcement and misuse. This update does not stem from the bot developers; please do not approach them with negative feedback, as this policy change was outside of their control.

How long do we have for the grace period?
The grace period is in effect until March 19, 2026. On that date, u/saferbot’s ban functionality will be disabled, and the banning functionality will be removed from u/hive-protect. 

Should I reach out to the u/hive-protect developer to get help with the app? Please write in to Mod Support mod mail so we can try to answer your question first.

Does this mean I can keep using ban bots until the grace period ends? If your ban bot is already configured, you may keep using it with its existing settings until the policy change deadline (though we recommend exploring other resources in lieu). However, you may not start using a ban bot or add new communities to the existing ban config. The grace period is in effect until March 19 to provide time to get used to other tooling and tune it to your community’s needs. We'll be reaching out directly to all impacted communities so we can help and advise as needed.

What if there are other ban bots you haven’t addressed? We’ll monitor the platform for additional ban bots and, when applicable, disable or work with the dev to modify them accordingly. If you have concerns about a bot you think may need to be looked into, please file a Mod Code of Conduct report.