https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/p8t966/reddit_and_karma_explained/
created by llamageddon01 on 21/08/2021 at 15:17 UTC*
770 upvotes, 7 top-level comments (showing 7)
This unofficial guide to starting out at Reddit was written by u/llamageddon01 and is designed to take you from complete beginner through to experienced Redditor![1] This version was completely revised in July/August 2023.
1: https://imgur.com/a/mVzwAhd
There are two versions of this resource, both carrying the same information but in different formats:
This is intended to be a full “Reddit for Dummies” type tutorial and I don’t expect you to read it through all at once! But quite honestly, parts 1-6 of this guide will take you from “kindergarten” level through to “graduate” level of Reddit by the time you read it all, and the final parts 7 and 8 will contain useful guides and information you will no doubt need at some stage of your Redditing so do keep coming back to it.
2: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/wiki/ntr-guidetoreddit
What is Reddit?[3] Established in 2005, Reddit is a content sharing platform, home to thousands of communities, endless conversation, and authentic worldwide human connection with people from all walks of life. Whether you're into breaking news, sports, TV fan theories, or a never-ending stream of the internet's cutest animals, there's a community for you.
Reddit is made up of an enormous collection of forums on every subject under the sun where people can share news, links, videos and pictures in “Posts” so that other people can make observations and conversation in “Comments” attached to these posts, while everyone can express their opinions by Voting on both the posts and comments. Every day, millions of people around the world post, vote, and comment in communities on Reddit organised around their interests.
You are free to decide what level of interaction you want with other users (Redditors) and to curate your own feed from the hundreds of thousands of specialised communities called “Subreddits” on offer, each of which covers a different topic from games, hobbies, music, art, movies and shows to support groups to world news to pets to academic matters and everything in between.
Check out this video[4] for a quick introduction to us, and here’s an illustrated overview[5] of Reddit. If that didn’t explain us enough, here’s an unofficial webcomic[6] that gives a fun look at our platform.
5: https://www.redditinc.com/assets/press-resources/Reddit_101_1908.pdf
6: https://i.redd.it/m6okliiza4fb1.jpg
Signing up for an account[7] is free, easy, and gives you a high degree of anonymity, especially compared to other social media platforms[8].
7: https://reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360060420092
8: https://reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/7420342178324-How-does-being-anonymous-work-on-Reddit-
Reddit as a whole is run by unpaid volunteers called Moderators (mods) and paid employees called Administrators (admin). Admin are rarely seen but are very distinctive as they have the word ADMIN in bright orange/red[9] next to their username. Moderators are more likely to be seen, and when they speak on formal behalf of their subreddit, their username will have the green word MOD[10] immediately after.
9: https://i.redd.it/rbv2c7n9f4fb1.jpg
10: https://i.redd.it/kf0tgcg1f4fb1.jpg
Like every long-established subculture, we have our own expressions[11] and if you are at all confused by some of our jargon, in-jokes, history or memes, we at r/NewToReddit have a fairly comprehensive alphabetical reference guide at our sister sub r/EncyclopaediaOfReddit to help you work out what we’re talking about. Let me suggest my guides to Acronyms 1: A-L[12] and Acronyms 2: M-Z[13] to start with!
11: https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/205313845-What-do-these-expressions-mean-
12: https://www.reddit.com/r/EncyclopaediaOfReddit/comments/12mp68c/acronyms_1_al/
13: https://www.reddit.com/r/EncyclopaediaOfReddit/comments/12nudl8/acronyms_2_mz/
Reddit might take a little time to get used to, but never fear! Here’s a quick video guide[14] on how to use Reddit, but more importantly, we’re here at r/NewToReddit specifically to help you navigate your own path step by step through our unique ways of ‘doing social media’.
14: https://youtu.be/CUMaeH63suU
There are Subreddits for anything. I would say almost anything but when I think I’ve seen them all, I discover ones like r/birdstakingthetrain or r/BreadStapledToTrees and realise I know nothing.
Most communities are friendly and jumping right on in is encouraged. You aren’t likely to get shot down for being a “n00b” but there will generally be one or two things you’ll need to know about each Subreddit (sub) first. Don’t worry, this guide will show you where to find them.
Altercations can happen, but most subs have an active team of mods who will usually shut any trouble down before it becomes vindictive. Just don’t post emojis though. Reddit in general does NOT like emojis. Reddit loves emoticons though :D Why? Don't ASCII me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ More on this later, or here if you simply can’t wait[15].
15: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/qbb173/comment/hhii6jr/
There are four basic actions you do on Reddit: **Upvote, Downvote, Comment, and Post.**
Reddit relies on crowdsourcing through its system of Upvotes and Downvotes to filter and prioritise the thousands of daily submissions it receives in order to present its users with the most interesting content it can, and you can help too. If you think a post or comment is interesting, helpful or contributes positively to the subreddit, press the Upvote arrow. If you think it doesn’t, press the Downvote arrow. You only get one vote on any one post or comment, and both can be negated by pressing the arrow you chose again, or reversed by pressing the opposite arrow to the one you originally chose.
Some subreddits have chosen to replace the default “arrow” icons with custom ones. In case it isn’t obvious which is which, the Upvote will be on the top (Old Reddit; desktop) or on the left (Mobile App) and the Downvote will be on the bottom (Old Reddit; desktop) or on the right (Mobile App).
There are two ways of Commenting on Reddit:
You can see what these both look like from this simple illustration[16] and this small conversation here[17].
16: https://i.redd.it/xi4m0dvwd9fb1.jpg
17: https://imgur.com/a/DE7DiaL
Finally, you can make your own Post in a subreddit for others to comment on. Many subreddits prefer - or even require pictures, gifs, videos or links in this post.
Once you enter a Subreddit, you read posts made by others and the comments made therein. If you like the Subreddit, you can “Join” it and it will form part of your personal home page feed. The "Join" button is near the top of the screen as seen here[18] and also in the three-dots “hamburger” post overflow menu[19] on the top RH of the screen on mobile. You can also “Leave” if you want, and the button can be found in the same place as the Join one was.
18: https://imgur.com/a/0Qdwtce
19: https://i.redd.it/6b7mzk1xfjq81.jpg
Until you join a few subreddits, your home page feed will be the general r/popular or r/all, which may well feature topics you’re not interested in, so it makes sense to start joining subs you like as soon as possible.
Moderators cannot see any lists of those who are joined to their subreddits, neither will they be notified if anyone leaves. There’s no limit on the number of times you can join or leave a subreddit, and nobody except you will ever know when or what subs you have joined or have left. You don’t even have to be joined in a sub to post or comment in it. There are no limits to the number of subreddits you can be joined in but Reddit does have an unspecified number of the ones it filters to your home feed at any one time.
Just underneath the Subreddit title there is a “Sort” menu. On mobile this is a drop-down list[20]. Sorting posts by either “New” or “Rising” will usually give more opportunities for chat and upvotes than you’ll get in older posts, and give other advantages we’ll see soon. You have the same options for sorting your home page feed too.
20: https://i.redd.it/hi4w88migjq81.jpg
Our guide to using Reddit begins with this illustrated primer to joining in on Reddit[21], then come back here to read some essential details you need to know about **Rules**, **Reddit Karma**, **Participating**, **Navigation** and **Safety**.
21: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/n49uim/joining_in_on_reddit/
It’s very much worth your while taking a few minutes to read through all the following advice as it contains everything you need from your first steps in getting started to your becoming firmly established here.
Once you’ve had a look through it all, if you have any questions do make a new Post in this Subreddit where you will find plenty of helpful people ready to Comment with the answers you need. r/NewToReddit is focused on giving one-to-one tailored quality advice for helping people new to Reddit Ways. We do not care how old your account is; if you have a query on Redditing, put it here and we will help.
We also have a “sister sub” called r/LearnToReddit which is a place to learn how to use Reddit without being embarrassed at making “newbie mistakes” in public. Here, you can have a go at making different post types like posting images or polls, learn how to comment using **bold** or *italic* text, how to create >!spoiler text!< and use many other features with our extensive sets of tutorials. The community will feedback on your post to let you know how you did or help you get it right next time.
Let’s get started with an introduction to Reddit and a few notes about rules!
Comment by llamageddon01 at 21/08/2021 at 15:21 UTC*
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Like every new thing you start, you just have to know a few ground rules first then the rest will follow.
Think of your early Reddit participation as starting a brand new video game. You may be a pro gamer but with any new game you still have to do the first few beginner and tutorial levels to earn enough Experience Points (XP) to unlock more levels. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll get through those early levels with ease and very soon be enjoying the full game, and it’s much the same on Reddit too.
Firstly, you need to know that new or “low Karma” accounts are in a kind of “probationary period” and subject to certain restrictions (including usage of our direct messaging options). These restrictions aren’t personal[1], and it won’t be long before they’ll gradually start to lift once you start getting established here.
May I ask that you please familiarise yourself with Reddit’s User Agreement[2], along with our Content Policy[3] before going any further. These are our sitewide rules which apply to every single Subreddit, Moderator and Redditor. We also have a “Code of Conduct” called “Reddiquette”[4] which you should also adhere to. Here are Reddit’s official guidelines on Rules and Reporting[5].
2: https://www.redditinc.com/policies/user-agreement
3: https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy
4: https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439-Reddiquette
5: https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/categories/360003247491-Rules-Reporting
Every single Subreddit (sub) is its own self-contained unit within Reddit. It has its own rules that visitors must follow to participate. They can be used as reasons to report or ban posts, comments, and users, so it’s important to read through the specific rules of an unfamiliar sub *before* contributing to avoid unintentional infractions.
It also has its own Moderators, preferred Post format and Karma entry requirements all totally unique to that community. The moderation style will change from sub to sub and rules which may be quite loosely interpreted in one sub might be tightly enforced in others.
For various reasons these rules and guidelines may not all be in one place, so here’s our comprehensive guide to finding any subreddit’s rules[6]. Some subs will have an F.A.Q. List, and many will have a Wiki. Mobile users can find more information by swiping down on a subreddits’ front page to reveal a see community info[7] menu. Unfortunately for mobile users, a subreddit Wiki is currently not fully compatible with the official Reddit app. Opening the Wiki in a browser will work, though not an ideal solution.
6: https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnToReddit/comments/pjsazs/finding_a_subreddits_rules/
7: https://i.redd.it/4efgsk49jbfb1.jpg
Our own rules are found in our Sidebar[8] for desktop or browser versions and the see community info[9] menu for the mobile app.
8: https://i.redd.it/oo387umxmbfb1.jpg
9: https://i.redd.it/4efgsk49jbfb1.jpg
We cannot hope to cover every specific possible instance, but these rules should give you a good idea about what content is okay in this community, and more importantly what is not. You can see an insight into our own particular moderation style here[10] and unlike most other subs, we post a monthly Rule Round-up[11] as a general reminder for our users. We also have a Moderation Policy[12] which I invite you to read.
10: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/15emldp/rules_rules_ya_gotta_have_em/
11: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/?f=flair_name%3A%22Rule%20Round-Up%22
12: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/wiki/policy/
Here is a shortened list of our rules in r/NewToReddit. The reasons behind them can be found here[13] and we strongly advise you to read this full version before participating here as we enforce our rules quite rigorously.
13: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/wiki/rules/
r/NewtoReddit's purpose is helping people navigate Reddit. We are not a complaints department or Reddit employees, and we have no way to change how Reddit operates. Like all things, Reddit is imperfect, and we will do our best to help you understand using various aspects of it. As noted in our Moderation Policy[14], we reserve the right to remove content for any reason. Final decisions are up to the moderators of r/NewToReddit in the spirit of these policies. Arguing for a narrow interpretation in order to bypass these rules isn’t allowed.
14: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/wiki/policy/
15: https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/NewToReddit
16: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/wiki/friends
Comment by llamageddon01 at 21/08/2021 at 15:24 UTC*
27 upvotes, 1 direct replies
A thing you will find out very quickly is that as a new Redditor, you aren’t able to post in some places; either your post is removed or a time limit gets put on your next post or comment.
While you are in this initial period, it is highly likely that your lack of Reddit XP will mean your first few posts or comments will be removed by one of our automatic removal systems. While we understand this can be extremely frustrating, please be assured that this is NOT PERSONAL. We don’t think you’re spamming unless you are, of course[1]. Almost everyone currently active here has gone through this same annoying stage of finding out where they can and can not post, but it doesn’t last long. What you need is to build up your Reddit XP in the form of Reddit Karma.
1: https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043504051
Very simplistically,[2] Reddit Karma is an approximation of the upvotes you get on your posts and comments throughout Reddit, minus any downvotes you might get. Your own upvote and downvote score is visible to others, but nobody can tell what individual posts or comments you upvote or downvote.
2: https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204511829-What-is-karma-
Despite appearances at first, there isn’t a 1:1 relationship between votes and Karma, as voting is filtered through a behind-the-scenes algorithm we call “Vote Fuzzing”; an automatic spam-reducing process built in by Reddit that slightly changes the vote counts on posts and comments each time you refresh the page. You can see the effect for yourself by trying the following example: I just upvoted a comment, and it showed three upvotes. Then I refreshed the page and it showed four upvotes. Then I refreshed again, and it showed two upvotes. That's vote fuzzing in action.
Reddit Karma is therefore an indicator of how much someone has contributed to Reddit in a positive manner. However annoying it is with an honest new account to build up Karma, this method really is an effective barrier to prevent spammers and scammers from creating unlimited new accounts to unleash unchecked havoc and mayhem.
There are two types of Reddit Karma: Comment Karma and Post Karma. Very simply , they work like this: if people like what you say on a post or comment, they give it a positive upvote. If they don't like it they give it a negative downvote. The ‘points’ you get from these actions are called Karma, and will show on your profile as one cumulative total[3]. However, Comment Karma is the most important to you in your early days of Redditing.
3: https://i.redd.it/8nb51tav0qfb1.jpg
You can find a breakdown of your Comment vs Post Karma[4] along with a karma breakdown by subreddit by pasting this link into a browser: https://old.reddit.com/user/me/[5]
4: https://i.redd.it/26j9eos41qfb1.jpg
5: https://old.reddit.com/user/me/
As you know, there are two main ways of communication on Reddit: commenting on other people’s posts and making posts of your own. Commenting will earn you Comment Karma and posting will earn you Post Karma.
The Reddit Karma you need right now as a new Redditor is Comment Karma. Many subs won’t allow you to post without accruing some Comment Karma first, so the more Comment Karma you have, the more subs will open to you for posts, so it makes sense to just gain your Reddit XP with quality comments for now.
Reddit will automatically give you one upvote for each and every comment you make. Think of it like a “thank you” for participating. Don’t remove it; it isn’t the narcissistic upvoting of yourself that it appears to be, and you should ignore the upvote like everyone else does. This upvote will not earn you Comment Karma but will stop your comment from appearing as if it has already been downvoted.
Reddit will automatically give you one upvote for each and every post you make. Think of it like a “thank you” for participating. Again, don’t remove it; it isn’t the narcissistic upvoting of yourself that it appears to be, and you should ignore the upvote like everyone else does. This upvote will not earn you Post Karma but will stop your post from appearing as if it has already been downvoted.
No, unfortunately it can’t. The problem to you as a new user is that one or both of these actions may be barred to you, depending on what Subreddit you are trying to use.
Every sub has its own rules, karma requirements and moderators all totally unique to that community, and very few subreddits will tell you their minimum karma level basically to avoid spammers or low-quality participants. It is usually advisable to wait until you have built up a decent amount of general Comment Karma throughout Reddit - at least 50 or so - before trying to make your own Posts. That leaves Commenting as your best option right now, and fortunately, there are a few big and busy subs that don’t require Karma to make comments, which we will get onto soon.
6: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/p8t966/comment/juik62t/
Comment by llamageddon01 at 21/08/2021 at 15:30 UTC*
16 upvotes, 2 direct replies
As you will recall, each Subreddit has its own rules and requirements, and you read earlier about how to find them all[1]. Always read the rules of an unfamiliar sub carefully *before* actively participating in it. If your comment breaches their rules in some way, it will be removed and you might even get a ban from the sub right from the start.
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnToReddit/comments/pjsazs/finding_a_subreddits_rules/
When entering a new sub, browse for a few minutes to get a general feel of the place. Do you see many comments with emojis? Do they use txt spk or casual profanity? If not, don’t be the one to start as that won’t end well.
Look out for restrictions. Some subreddits have lists of banned words (some for fun like r/AVoid5 - a community that can post anything as long as it doesn’t contain the letter E, but others for more serious reasons) and some subs, like r/OutOfTheLoop require posts AND top-level (parent)[2] comments to follow a particular format. Some may require you to be “approved” before you can participate; again, some for fun like r/FruitRevolution (who require you to have a fruit-based username), and others for more serious reasons. All these restrictions and their permissions will be for a reason unique to that sub and will be detailed in the subreddit rules.
2: https://i.redd.it/xi4m0dvwd9fb1.jpg
Sometime during your working life you will be asked to provide a C.V.: a summary of your life skills and habits, carefully crafted by you to show perfect strangers that you’re the best person for the position they’re offering. But many employers spend just a few seconds scanning each C.V. before sticking it in the 'Yes' or 'No' pile, and a whole rainforest of books have been written over the years on how to make your C.V. stand out from the rest.
It’s a similar situation here on Reddit. If a mod wants to know who a user in their sub is, the first thing they do is look at the user’s profile. It doesn’t take long to assess from the variety of subs, types of posts and content of comments whether that user is going to be a good and thoughtful contributor to their sub or not. You are judged in seconds, not minutes.
Whichever subs you choose to participate in, comment with thoughtfulness on a few posts or other comments and your karma will build up gradually. Asking relevant questions or just being affirming with good, interesting, useful or witty comments will attract the upvotes. Where applicable, make a pun or a pop-culture reference. Reddit loves puns and pop-culture references. If you are really stuck on ‘small-talk’ stuff to say, this guide on Lost for Words[3] might be useful, and my Mod Post on Big Talk about Small Talk[4] will give some insight on why it��s ‘valuable currency’ on Reddit.
3: https://www.reddit.com/r/EncyclopaediaOfReddit/comments/110mxfa/lost_for_words/
4: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/ovodna/sunday_funday/
There are some holes in the Redditing Road waiting for you right from the very start. There’s more details as to why I say all this, but you won’t go far wrong following this pared-down advice that you have previously read about, and a short note on one we haven’t yet covered.
Some subreddits have deliberately set a low character limit. r/AmItheAsshole state in their rules about tl:dr (Too Long; Didn’t Read) that there’s a 3000 character limit to post[5] there.
5: https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/wiki/faq/
In general across Reddit, there’s a 6,800 (or thereabouts) character limit on each comment. It used to be 10,000 but has apparently been reduced somewhat. To give you an idea how long this is, this comment is 6,762. A bug report[6] suggests this is variable and it might well be. Because I myself can’t seem to post or edit any comments longer than 6,800, that’s what I recommend. Don’t forget that invisible markdown commands, punctuation and spaces also count as characters.
6: https://www.reddit.com/r/bugs/comments/u8oydh/cant_post_comments_with_character_count_higher/
When I know my comment is going to be long and involved, I compose it in a notes app then use this useful free tool to check the length: https://www.charactercountonline.com[7] before replying in Reddit (just in case the app crashes or updates in the meantime).
7: https://www.charactercountonline.com
Right. That’s enough warnings for now, let’s get onto the good stuff!
On opening a Post to read it, at the very bottom of the screen (mobile) will be a reply bar “Add a comment”[8]. On desktop (or mobile browser), this will be a box directly below the post “What are your thoughts?”[9].
8: https://i.redd.it/aflunndmqvfb1.jpg
9: https://i.redd.it/7sa0cd2ksvfb1.jpg
Commenting in this will reply directly to the OP (the person who submitted the post) and they will be notified that someone replied to them. This Parent Comment seen here on mobile[10] and here on desktop or browser[11] can be replied to by OP or other Redditors and you will be notified when someone replies to you.
10: https://i.redd.it/dqe6icyxh4gb1.jpg
11: https://i.redd.it/d2m0sxofi4gb1.jpg
To reply to one of the existing comments on a post is slightly different. Directly underneath the comment will be a “Reply” arrow (mobile) or speech bubble (desktop) icon which will bring up a dialogue box. This will reply directly to the person who made the comment and they will be notified that someone replied to them. The post OP will not be notified of these Child Comments seen here on mobile[12] and here on desktop or browser[13].
12: https://i.redd.it/avrgo1zuj4gb1.png
13: https://i.redd.it/nwo4tcd6k4gb1.jpg
You can even post images or reaction gifs in a comment in many subreddits, but not all. However, in these, you can post links to outside sources or other Reddit posts. More on this later!
14: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/p8t966/comment/h9srtpt/
Comment by llamageddon01 at 21/08/2021 at 15:49 UTC*
13 upvotes, 0 direct replies
For the final part of this guide, here are some helpful links and recommended resources to bookmark for future reference.
We have two “sister subreddits” for your use and reference, both run by part or all of the same team as this one:
This sub is a vastly expanded version of my previous “Encyclopaedia Redditica”[1] which is intended to be a quick reference to Reddit’s expressions, jargon, in-jokes, tropes, lore, history and memes to be used in the same way you would use any dictionary or encyclopaedia. A quick A-Z Index of entries can be found here.[2]
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/qbb173/the_newtoreddit_encyclopaedia_redditica_v2/
2: https://www.reddit.com/r/EncyclopaediaOfReddit/comments/11ilm6i/all_entries_index/
As we learned from the introduction to Reddit, two entries you’ll need almost immediately are:
And to a lesser extent:
These lists (indeed, the whole encyclopaedia) are very much a work-in-progress, so do keep checking back on them.
3: https://www.reddit.com/r/EncyclopaediaOfReddit/comments/12nudlu/acronyms_3_abbreviations/
This sub is especially designed to be your new sandbox for trying out all the Reddit tricks and features you’ve learned throughout this guide. There are more in-depth guides to some Reddit features, extensive sets of tutorials, one-to-one tuition and feedback to help you make different post types like posting images, galleries or polls, learn how to comment using ~~strikethrough,~~ **bold** or *italic* text, how to create >!spoiler text!< and much more. Why not have some fun and test yourself with our regular Challenge[4] posts?
4: https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnToReddit/comments/156t7kp/welcome_to_a_learntoreddit_challenge/
5: https://www.reddithelp.com/
6: https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/sections/360008810132-Reporting
7: https://www.redditstatus.com
8: https://www.redditinc.com/policies
9: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/categories/200073949-Reddit-101
10: https://www.reddit.com/r/help/wiki/faq
11: https://www.reddit.com/wiki/reddit_101
You may have seen all those Discord links on every subreddit you've been on - and for a good reason. Reddit and Discord go hand in hand in this little corner of the internet which is why we now have our own server. Don't worry, you don't have to join at all - this subreddit will still be here 24/7 and that will continue into the future. We don’t actually use it that much as we prefer to deal with Reddit issues in the subreddit itself.
Invite link: https://discord.gg/tCTAMyTDp4
Nothing. You’ve graduated from “Reddit School”. Go out there and Reddit like a pro! Come back to us and let us know how you’re getting on. Help some new arrivals at r/NewToReddit and get a “Helper” flair!
Comment by llamageddon01 at 21/08/2021 at 15:38 UTC*
12 upvotes, 1 direct replies
As you will recall, each Subreddit has its own rules and requirements, and you read earlier about how to find them all[1]. In general, there will be more restrictions on posting than commenting, so it’s vital to always read the rules of an unfamiliar sub carefully before posting. If your post breaches their rules in some way, it will be removed and you might even get a ban from the sub right from the start.
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnToReddit/comments/pjsazs/finding_a_subreddits_rules/
When entering a new sub to post, browse for a few minutes to get a general feel of the place. Do you see many posts with emojis? Do they use txt spk or casual profanity? If not, don’t be the one to start as that won’t end well. Does every post have the same look and feel?
Look out for restrictions as some subs require posts to follow a particular format while others don’t. For instance, r/spotted is a fun subreddit to post unusual cars to. You can see from this screenshot[2] that the name of the car is mentioned somewhere in every post title inside [square brackets]. Without doing this, your post will be rejected.
2: https://i.redd.it/3yknapdwvngb1.jpg
Posts to r/tipofmytongue are text only and require [TOMT] in the title, which you can see here[3].
3: https://i.redd.it/7fh72oyo7pgb1.jpg
Some, like r/news may need their Post titles written in a particular way. This subreddit requires you to link to a news article as per their Rule 4: *No editorialized titles; Title must match article title*. You can see this in action in this screenshot[4] and the corresponding article linked in the first post[5].
4: https://i.redd.it/7ks6yn4n2ogb1.png
5: https://i.redd.it/s157ho253pgb1.jpg
Others might require an appropriate Post Flair added. r/whereintheworld is a subreddit for showing off the people and places around you, and every post needs to have a specific flair[6] as specified in the coloured rectangles in their sidebar. Posting there on mobile will prompt you to choose one[7] from a drop-down drawer menu while posting there on a desktop or a browser will give you the same menu from a “luggage tag” icon and also remind you of the rules[8].
6: https://i.redd.it/7e53wj9napgb1.png
7: https://i.redd.it/tfdoinptcpgb1.jpg
8: https://i.redd.it/cce4z2buapgb1.jpg
r/food is a subreddit which requires a post title written in a particular way, a tag, *and* an OC (Original Content; i.e: of your own making) flair. While on desktop or browser you can see the tags on their sidebar[9], but on mobile you’ll have to swipe down to see the see community info[10] tab to find them.
9: https://i.redd.it/utgw7bpafpgb1.jpg
10: https://i.redd.it/q1f86zvxfpgb1.jpg
Some subs require you to have some history of commenting with them before allowing you to post. Some may require you to be “approved” before you can participate. With all these cases, their requirements or permissions will be listed in their rules[11].
11: https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnToReddit/comments/pjsazs/finding_a_subreddits_rules/
“Post” is the general term for stuff that you’re bringing to Reddit, whether it’s yours or something found elsewhere on the Internet. A post will fall into one of these categories:
Just because something you saw on other social media is new to you doesn’t mean it’s new to Reddit, and some subreddits don’t take kindly to Reposts, especially if it’s recent. It is therefore in your best interest to take a few seconds to sort by[12] ‘Top’, ‘Hot’, then ‘New’ and see if whatever you’re posting has already been posted recently. To avoid being called a “spambot”, KarmaDecay[13] is a good tool to check if and when your post was last posted on Reddit but it does tend to disappear and reappear without warning. http://karmadecay.com[14]. Some also use https://repostsleuth.com[15] but that isn’t anything I’ve personally used so I couldn’t tell you how effective it is.
12: https://i.redd.it/hi4w88migjq81.jpg
13: https://www.reddit.com/r/KarmaDecay/comments/5k0h1p/what_is_karma_decay/
It is good practice when making a Crosspost to say it in the title[16]. You should also note that some subreddits do not allow crossposts; again, always check the rules before commenting or posting on an unfamiliar Subreddit.
16: https://i.redd.it/v3uvfeif8wgb1.jpg
Multiposting is where you share the same identical content across different Subreddits. This is a risky strategy, especially for a new user, as you could easily be mistaken for a Spambot. If you do post the same question or other content in different subreddits, make sure you don’t copy and paste the same wording across to them all, otherwise you might fall foul of Reddit’s spam filter or might even get you a ban.
You should also bear in mind that multiposting might inadvertently work against you. For instance, your cute kitten might be the perfect candidate for posting in r/Floof, r/illegallysmolcats, r/Kitten, and indeed most of the cat subreddits[17] but as cat lovers are almost contractually bound to be joined to all those subs, they might not take too kindly to their feed being full of your kitty, no matter how pretty. If you do still want to post those paws in all those subs, space the timing around a bit and change your title wording to avoid being mistaken for a spambot.
17: https://www.reddit.com/r/Catsubs/wiki/index
The method of making a post varies slightly on desktop than the mobile app.[18] You might also find this illustrated guide[19] of use. There’s a character limit of 40,000 on each post, though some subreddits have capped this at a lower level.
18: https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360060422572-How-do-I-post-on-Reddit-
19: https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-post-to-reddit/
On r/LearnToReddit we have plenty of space for you to practice, and tutorials like Making a text post with Post Flair[20] and also a video demonstration[21] will help you get started.
22: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/p8t966/comment/jvaypg8/
Comment by llamageddon01 at 21/08/2021 at 15:40 UTC*
11 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Have I told you that there are subreddits for anything? Have you got a favourite music genre or artist? There is a sub for that, I almost guarantee. There are subs for most popular video games that cater for all levels of skill. There will be a sub for your country and for your home town. For your favourite sport and team. For your favourite tv show, YouTube channel, movie and movie genre. For all kinds of fandoms, franchises, books, comics, crafts and hobbies, type of pet or other animal, type of food, or your beverage of choice. In fact, for just about anything you find of interest! And r/memes. Oh yes, do we have memes.
Reddit has its serious side too. There are many support groups for illnesses and personal issues great and small. Advice groups for particular problems. Parenting subreddits on all manner of issues from fertility to homeschooling and more. Age-related groups to find others your age or to ask questions to those of other generations than you.
There are many politically minded subreddits, ones to discuss world events and current affairs, even a variety of conspiracy theories. Interested in law or policing? Finance, cryptocurrency or the stock market? We have subs for you too.
For those of an academic bent, there are subreddits on world history, linguistic, mathematical or philosophical matters, technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs, and for the more metaphysically minded, subreddits for speculation about the development of humanity, along with ones concerned with religious, spiritual and supernatural beliefs of all varieties from the ‘new-age’ to the traditional.
And we have porn. Lots of porn. Which leads me onto….
NSFW is an acronym meaning “Not Safe For Work”. It basically means if you’re at work or in company, you probably shouldn’t open it. On Reddit, you must be 18+ to view this adult-oriented content. You cannot enter a sub (or a Redditor’s profile) marked NSFW without going through a warning screen first. SFW is the opposite, meaning that despite appearances the content of the link is “Safe For Work”. NSFW usually denotes profanity or nudity, but also content much more extreme. Be warned that sometimes people will link things more suited for an NSFL warning, so you’ll need to use your judgment carefully before clicking through.
The acronym “NSFL”, meaning “Not Safe For Life” denotes dangerous practices ahead which are not easy viewing. One huge step above NSFW, this type of post is usually very disturbing, extreme, highly offensive or contains gore. Click a link marked NSFL with extreme caution, or, preferably, don’t click it at all. Currently, there is no official demarcation on Reddit between NSFW and NSFL.
Your profile will be marked as NSFW should you interact with an NSFW sub. NSFW subreddits and profiles are not allowed to use Reddit's native image and video uploader, and must host videos elsewhere and make link posts. NSFW videos do not have sound; it is disabled automatically. If a picture is uploaded and the post is marked NSFW, it will automatically have the blur feature applied[1] regardless of the actual content[2].
1: https://i.redd.it/1lzq9pk3z0z81.jpg
2: https://i.redd.it/w1xejl3li0z81.jpg
At https://www.reddit.com/settings/feed[3] you can choose to see NSFW content or not, and if you choose to see it, you can also choose to blur it with safe browsing mode. In the browser it is called "Safe Browsing Mode" and is on the Feed Settings page. On mobile, tap your avatar top left, settings at the bottom[4], then you can toggle NSFW content on or off and toggle the blur too.
3: https://www.reddit.com/settings/feed
4: https://i.redd.it/ox0xqepzzvt81.jpg
On the iOS app, NSFW settings can be found in your **device settings** page after selecting the Reddit app, and NOT the Reddit app itself. You'll want to enable "Show NSFW Content (18+)" and disable "Blur NSFW Images".
Alternatively, the settings on Old Reddit https://old.reddit.com/prefs/[5] (mobile users will have to paste that link into a browser) allow you to select not to have image previews/thumbnails show and you can turn autoplay off for videos. Turn on the option “I am over eighteen years old and willing to view adult content”, scroll down to the bottom, and click the “Save Options” button. Turn on the option “include not safe for work (NSFW) search results in searches”, scroll down to the bottom, and click the “Save Options” button.
5: https://old.reddit.com/prefs/
On mobile, the bottom of your profile page has a selection of tabs[6], the second of which is called “Communities”. This is a recent addition[7] and contains lots of lists and suggestions of subreddits Reddit thinks you might like.[8]
6: https://i.redd.it/0b7cgn3jq5ib1.jpg
8: https://i.redd.it/j6kfgxq8r5ib1.png
Whatever you’re interested in, put your key word in the search bar and it will show you relevant comments and communities to join. Reddit’s native search engine wasn’t the best[9], but has gotten a lot better in recent months[10] and a comprehensive guide to using the Reddit search syntax can be found at: https://www.reddit.com/wiki/search[11].
9: https://www.redditinc.com/blog/the-search-for-better-search-at-reddit
11: https://www.reddit.com/wiki/search
On desktop, next to the "Sort By" drop down below the comment box, you'll see the search bar that reads "Search comments." Mobile is a bit different: When you're on a post, click the magnifying glass icon in the top bar and search there.
You can use Google (other search engines are, of course, available) employing modifiers to search for specific stuff. For instance, searching "site:reddit.com + [topic]" in Google is an easy way to find subreddits and content across Reddit overall. Google Search Help[12] will show you how to refine your searches in general, as will this list of advanced Google Search Operators[13]. There’s more detailed help in the my guide to Searching[14] too.
12: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?hl=en
13: https://ahrefs.com/blog/google-advanced-search-operators/
14: https://www.reddit.com/r/EncyclopaediaOfReddit/comments/110naaa/searching/
15: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/p8t966/comment/jvfes44/
Comment by llamageddon01 at 21/08/2021 at 15:44 UTC*
10 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Reddit is its own corner of the Internet, but it is still very much part of the Internet, and you should exercise caution when sharing personal information. Reddit is open to anyone to read; you don’t have to join or be a member to see the vast majority of things posted here and unlike some social media, stuff on Reddit is easily searched through Google and other search engines.
Reddit is as anonymous as you want it to be. However, for someone determined to track you down, it’s still possible to piece together the small things you might leak out over time.
Let’s say, for instance, you might have posted and commented a few times in different subreddits some advice or information that implies you have knowledge about an educational curriculum. You might post some comments about your local sports team. Perhaps you like to talk about a niche hobby you're into. You make several comments about craft beer. You post about your dream car and the grudging love for your current clunker. You’ve posted pics of your dog or asked for identification of that weed in your garden.
If you're posting to a subreddit that relates to your school, college or workplace (maybe even an unofficial subreddit set up by other students or employees of said workplace/company), be careful what you say. Some people can deduce based upon information posted who you are and where specifically you study or work. Not only that, but it’s almost inevitable that your impromptu one-time “off my chest” rant might well find its way into the hands of the very people you don’t want it to be, with undesirable consequences. Some people use “Alt” or "throwaway" accounts for using in those subs, which might be worth your consideration as they cannot be linked to your ‘main’ Reddit account even if you set it up with the same email.
To “Dox” is to spread out personal information on somebody. This might not only comprise their identity or their address, but other potentially sensitive information such as their work, school, or relationships. Most often, though, it's somebody's location. Arguably the biggest threat when it comes to doxxing is the information somebody posts online themselves: their full name, occupation, school, pictures of themselves and loved ones, and pictures of themselves at or near specific locations. This is made easier with platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where people share stuff about themselves liberally but don't bother too much to secure this info.
LinkedIn has been used to dox people on Reddit in the past. To be safe, do not view Reddit and LinkedIn simultaneously, and make sure your Reddit account has a separate email account and provider to your LinkedIn account, with a different password.
Don’t upload or share anything to any digital media you wouldn’t want your family, friends, peers, workmates or employers seeing, no matter how innocent (or otherwise). Once you upload something anywhere and it gets on the Internet you lose all control of it, especially if someone else screenshots or shares it. Reddit is no exception as it isn’t just open for anyone to view, it’s also very “Googleable”. Getting an image shared worldwide is easy; getting it removed is virtually impossible. It’s also incredibly easy to use a reverse image search to find that selfie or other photo you posted to Reddit that’s also on your Instagram or Facebook account. Combine that with what I say above and you’ve inadvertently given away far more information about yourself than you ever wanted to share on Reddit. Compartmentalising your internet activity is a very good idea in this day and age.
Reddit is intended to be an anonymous site, overall, but people post photos of themselves and their lives on here all the time. It’s more up to your preference about your own privacy and if you’re happy having your photos on Reddit forever. People can use things against you such as selfies, if they intend to insult you during an argument or sometimes users will save photos and post them to subreddits for negative reasons and photos can also be used to find other social media accounts or personal information about you that’s online. These are all things you should be wary of while having yourself on your profile.
If someone is harassing you or someone else, reporting the specific post, comment, chat or private message to Reddit is the best way to let us know. Reddit has clear guidelines[1] on what to do in these situations, as does our[2] sister sub r/LearnToReddit.
2: https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnToReddit/comments/qyxjyk/how_to_report/
3: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/p8t966/comment/jvpynle/
