A guide for families with key information about ‘Reddit’, including the age rating, key terminology, risks and instructions for enabling parental controls and safety settings.
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How Reddit works
Reddit is a social media and news platform where users can post about their interests and join communities (subreddits) of people with similar interests. Users are encouraged to:
- create and share their own content
- react, reward and vote on the content made by others
Posts with the most upvotes (likes) become more visible on the platform. Subreddits range from niche hobbies to broader subjects like ‘sports’ or ‘news’ and help users find like-minded individuals.
Minimum age requirements
Users must be at least 13 to use Reddit. However, there is no age verification when creating an account.
Despite this minimum age, the Apple App Store rates the app as only being suitable for users aged 18+. Google Play recommends parental guidance because of inappropriate content and language available on the platform.
While users must verify that they are over 18 before they can view ‘Not Safe For Work’ content on the platform, unverified profiles can still see mature language and sexually suggestive or violent images.
Features and terms
Awards
If a user really likes a post or comment, they can award the original poster (OP) for their content. Awarding a user costs ‘Reddit Gold’.
Chats
This function allows users to chat privately.
Community muting
This allows users to stop receiving notifications or suggestions for other communities based on their preferences. This can help to limit exposure to some subreddits with potentially harmful content.
Flair
This is a content tag, which is typically set by the user who posted the content. These tags will differ based on subreddits, with some requiring flairs before users can participate.
Front page
This is the main page that features posts from the different communities a user follows.
Karma
These are in-app points that users earn from commenting or posting content that other users upvote when they like it. Users can also earn ‘negative karma’ from receiving downvotes.
Not safe for work (NSFW)
This tells users what content should be viewed in private. Content labelled as NSFW is not suitable for users under 18.
r/all
A browsing page which features popular posts from all over Reddit. Posts can be sorted by category, including ‘Hot’, ‘New’, ‘Top’, ‘Controversial’ and ‘Rising’.
Reddit Gold
Users can purchase these using real currency. They can then award ‘Reddit Gold’ to posts and comments.
Reddit premium
This is a paid-for subscription service which allows users to use the app ad free.
Subreddit
This is a form of community on the platform centred around a specific topic.
What Reddit offers
Communities
Reddit allows users to connect with others who share their interests. The comment section allows users to chat and share their thoughts. There is a voting system which helps highlight popular comments while pushing less useful or inappropriate ones further down the comments thread.
Skill-building
Reddit can be used to learn about activities and interests. Many subreddits are dedicated to specific skills. where users share advice, tutorials, and examples of their work.
Potential risks on Reddit
Inappropriate content
There are millions of subreddits, and some are not suitable for young people, such as those based around pornography or violence. Some subreddits and posts are marked ‘NSFW’. However, inappropriate content might still be posted without being marked as ‘NSFW’, and most communities are willing to allow mature language to be used in comments and posts.
These actions can help reduce exposure to inappropriate content.
Manage (curate) the feed
Encouraging your child to follow age-appropriate subreddits can make their experience more positive. Teach them how to select ‘Show fewer posts like this’ on posts that they find upsetting or inappropriate. Also, avoid using feeds like r/all, which can show content from any subreddit.
Use blocking, reporting and hiding tools
Teach your child to block inappropriate or upsetting posts and comments from specific users. Encourage them to report content that breaks site rules to keep the platform safer. You can also show them how to mute entire subreddits from their feed.
Harmful contact with other users
When users join subreddits on the platform, they meet others who have the same interests. This shared interest can make it easier for strangers to connect with and form relationships with each other through the comment and chat functions. Harmful strangers can use this to their advantage and target young people’s vulnerabilities. The following actions can help your child stay safe.
Talk to them
Speak to your child about the risks of connecting with strangers and explain the importance of not sharing any identifiable information on their profile or within chats. Remind them to tell you if someone asks personal questions or makes them feel uncomfortable.
Show how to block and report
Encourage your child to block anyone that is making them uncomfortable, and report users that violate Reddit’s guidelines.
Adjust settings
In the account settings, restrict other users from messaging your child, reducing the chances of someone being in contact with your child.
Contact the police
If you suspect another user is attempting to groom your child, you should report them to the police.
Settings to protect your child
If your child uses Reddit, these settings can make their experience on the platform safer.
Disable chat
- In the app, select the profile picture in the top right.
- From the side menu, select ‘Settings’.
- Select ‘Account settings for (username)’.
- Select ‘Chat permissions’.
- Select ‘Allow chat request from’ and choose ‘Nobody’.
Review blocking, reporting and muting tools
Block or report a user
- Go to a user’s profile by selecting their username on a post or by typing their username in the search bar.
- On their profile, select the 3 vertical dots in the top right corner.
- To block, select ‘Block’ and then ‘Block account’.
- To report, select 'Report profile’, then choose the reason for reporting and select ‘Submit’.
Mute a subreddit
- Go to a subreddit by selecting the subreddit name on a post or by typing the subreddit name in the search bar.
- In the subreddit, select the 3 vertical dots in the top right corner.
- Select ‘Mute (subreddit name)’.
- Confirm by selecting ‘Yes, Mute’.