Before you jump right into Reddit with the rest of the world, there are a few rules that all Redditors should do their best to abide by that are known as “Reddiquette.” While it’s not exactly a guarantee, following these rules can help you have a more pleasant Reddit experience, as you’ll avoid mishaps with moderators and other users. This list includes some of the things you’ll want to keep in mind.
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1. Never Share Personal Information
Posting someone’s personal information on a Reddit thread is frowned on in the community and is part of the website’s strict crackdown on vigilantism and witch hunts. You’ll want to steer clear of posting any links that lead to pages that show an individual’s personal info, as well as photos that show the same.
This rule extends to social media profile links and screenshots. If you have to post photos of social media, you’ll have to block out the sensitive information by blurring it out or masking it using another color. You can accomplish this by using the default Paint or Paint 3D apps that come with Windows or your photo-editing software of choice.
Failure to abide by this rule will likely result in the removal of your comment and the prompt deletion of your account.
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2. Avoid Cheap Reposts
Reposting is the sharing of content that was uploaded previously and can be a great way of relaying interesting news, memes, and other information that people may have missed. While certain kinds of reposting are allowable and sometimes even encouraged, Redditors are vehemently against taking someone’s previously uploaded content and claiming it as your own, especially when it comes to media that someone put real effort into.
In cases like these, expect a lot of strong remarks in the comments section from the original poster and other users who are aware of the real post owner. If you’re dying to repost something created by someone else, you can always reach out to that user and ask for permission or give them some kudos in your repost.
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3. Steer Clear of Sleazy Self-Promotions
Getting those sweet upvotes on your post and rising in popularity can certainly be addictive, but you must be mindful of how you garner those votes. Dropping hints in your post asking other users to upvote is generally condemned, as is sending DMs or posting on social media asking people to give you votes. In the same vein, you shouldn’t offer up prizes or gifts in exchange for votes either.
If you want to get upvotes on Reddit, be active in popular Subreddits and trending content and make sure the content you upload is relative to the Subreddit you’re posting in and that your post is up to date and interesting. It’s not worth taking shortcuts to get those upvotes.
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4. Don’t Be Obnoxious
As we all know, Internet discussions can get heated, and it’s easy to go from spirited debate to an outright flame war, especially considering the level of privacy Reddit provides. Despite that, try to approach Reddit threads in the same way you would face real-life situations.
Be respectful, try to keep the trash-talking to an acceptable level, and don’t go overboard with your criticisms and arguments. Step out of line one too many times and a moderator may boot you out of the Subreddit. At the end of the day, there’s another person behind the username you’re interacting with, so you should treat them as such. A little kindness goes a long way.
If things start to get a little too heated, you can always step away from your keyboard for a few minutes and wait for the rage to settle down a bit. You should be especially wary of trolls, since these kinds of users make it their mission to get a rise out of you. Do yourself a favor and just ignore or actively steer clear of them.
5. Refrain from Downvoting Posts for Personal Reasons
It’s easy to misunderstand what the downvote button is meant for. After all, you upvote posts because you like them or find them useful, so it’s only understandable that posts that elicit the opposite effect are given the downvote. But that shouldn’t really be the case. You should never downvote a post just because you personally disagree with the message or find it boring.
The true function of the downvote option is to report posts that either shouldn’t be on that specific thread, violate the rules of Reddit as a whole, link you to a malicious site, or similar. Only downvote a post if you have good reason for doing so.
When wondering whether you should downvote a post or not, simply ask yourself if the post is relevant to the Subreddit and contributes to the topic. If it does neither of these two things, then the post should be deserving of your downvote.
6. Don’t Rush Your Post
It’s easy to be tempted to just jump into Reddit and start posting away, but it’s best to do your homework and tour the site a bit before you go all in. You’ll want to do some research about how to create successful posts and familiarize yourself with the rules of the subreddit you plan on posting in since each has its own set of regulations.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of helpful resources on the Internet about these kinds of topics, and there’s even an article in Reddit’s help section that can teach you more about Reddiquette. While you’re at it, you should read through the help section in general for tips on getting started and information that might help you understand the website better.
Lastly, don’t forget to check out these weird subreddits for interesting stuff.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is karma and how do I earn it?
Karma is a publicly shown number right next to your Reddit username that’s an indicator of how much you’ve contributed to the Reddit community so far. If your karma dips into the negative, you may have trouble posting in certain subreddits, as the algorithm will limit your ability to post to once every 10 minutes.
You gain karma whenever your posts or comments get upvoted, so doing so may help. Giving awards is known to net you some karma as well. It’s worth noting, however, that Reddit recommends that you don’t set out to earn karma. Instead, you should just strive to be a good person, and the karma points will follow.
2. What does “/s” mean?
If you’re fairly new to Reddit, you may have come across some comments or posts with “/s” in them. In the Reddit space, this is widely recognized as a quick way to convey sarcasm. Any text leading up to the “/s” should be read in a sarcastic tone. The text that follows the “/s” should no longer be considered sarcastic.
3. What are Reddit Coins and how are they used?
Reddit Coins are a type of virtual currency that you can use on the platform to gift awards to other Redditors as a form of appreciation. For example, you could give out an award for an enjoyable post or a helpful comment.
Reddit constantly adds new awards to its platform, some of which even provide the receiver with Reddit Coins of their own or an ad-free Reddit experience. Reddit Coins can be purchased from the website’s Coins Page using traditional currency.
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