What is Reddit and its Effective Use?

Safalta Expert Published by: Gaurav Bawa Updated Tue, 20 Jun 2023 12:37 PM IST

Highlights

There are other specialized discussion boards on the internet, but if you're searching for a one-stop shop, Reddit is hard to beat (opens in new tab). The website provides news, discussion, answers, and entertainment on a any topic imaginable.

Table Of Content

What exactly is Reddit?
What exactly is a subreddit?
How popular is Reddit?
Which subreddits are the most popular?
Is it possible for me to start my own subreddit?
How do I locate subreddits?
How can I submit, comment, and vote on Reddit?
How does the front page function?
What can I post on Reddit?
Are there any Reddit ground rules?
Do subreddits have their own set of rules?
What exactly is a flair?
Is there any additional consequence to upvotes, and what is karma?
Is it possible to lose karma on Reddit?
Is it possible for me to get banned from Reddit?
Can I get my ban lifted?
Can others see my Reddit activity?
Are there any Reddit mobile apps?



There are other specialised discussion boards on the internet, but if you're searching for a one-stop shop, Reddit is hard to beat (opens in new tab). The website provides news, discussion, answers, and entertainment on about any topic imaginable. Reddit bills itself as "the front page of the Internet(opens in new tab)," and it has proven to be exactly that over the previous decade and a half. Its users appear to be able to spot trends and news before anybody else, and then remark on them, often with exceptional humour or insightful knowledge. If you're unfamiliar with the site, here's a primer on everything Reddit, including how to enjoy it and contribute.

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What exactly is Reddit?

Reddit is essentially a vast set of forums where registered users may discuss practically anything they want, from news to pop culture to technology to comics, cinema, literature, and the strangest things in the world, including some highly NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content.


What exactly is a subreddit?

Subreddits are specialised forums that are referred to as r/"topic" (for example, r/gadgets(opens in new tab)). There are currently over 130,000 active subreddits. Except for private subreddits, which need an application procedure, you may read and participate in all of them for free. Subreddits may also be subscribed to so that their most popular posts display on your customised Reddit home page.


How popular is Reddit?

According to Wikipedia, the most recent statistic — from October 2021 — is 430 million active unique users each month, ranking it seventh in the United States and nineteenth worldwide (opens in new tab). By the way, Reddit users are known as "redditors."
 

Which subreddits are the most popular?

According to the most recent subscriber figures(opens in new tab), the top five most popular subreddits — excluding the default r/announcements(opens in new tab) — are r/funny(opens in new tab) with 37.7 million subscribers, r/AskReddit(opens in new tab) (33,8 million), r/gaming(opens in new tab) (30.8 million), r/aww (28.2 million). However, with over 138,000 active subreddits, the list does not end there. There is a community for almost every activity, interest, fandom, and basic facet of everyday life. From big TV show subreddits like r/DunderMifflin(opens in new tab) (1.8 million) to more specialist ones like r/pottery(opens in new tab) (71k). Other non-mainstream favourites include r/oddlysatisfying(opens in new tab), which features oddly satisfying videos and photos; r/CrappyDesign(opens in new tab), which celebrates the many crappy designs that surround us; and r/EarthPorn(opens in new tab), which features stunning images of our Pale Blue Dot but not actual porn.That's only the top of the iceberg. The subreddits range from every hobby and topic imaginable to the most bizarre things(opens in new tab), such as r/wolveswithwatermelons(opens in new tab) (which is exactly that, though it also includes dogs), r/birdswitharms(opens in new tab) (people photoshopping arms on birds), or r/thomasthedankengine(opens in new tab) (which is full of people remixing the Thomas the Tank Engine theme with hip-hop tracks)


Is it possible for me to start my own subreddit?

Yes, if you're registered. If your ideal subreddit does not yet exist, you may create one yourself. Subreddits have been banned in the past for being committed to illegal activity or used as a rallying point for hate organisations, so you'll need to respect the community standards.


How do I locate subreddits?

Any page on the site has a search area at the top. Simply enter any topic and you will most likely find it. If you want to search for NSFW subjects, you must first register and click the "include NSFW results" option.


How can I submit, comment, and vote on Reddit?

Anyone may explore and read freely on Reddit. You may also sign up and get more active. Registered users can post to any of the public subreddits. They may also join subreddits, which can alter how Reddit's home page looks for you (more on this later). They may also provide comments on other people's entries by simply clicking on the open comment section located just beneath the entry. Similarly, you may respond to other people's remarks by clicking reply. Finally, registered users can upvote or downvote any of the entries, which is how Reddit determines which posts will appear on the main page.
 

How does the front page function?

Reddit offers a front page where specific posts are highlighted based on various algorithms. There are several tabs on this top page. If you are not registered, the default tab is "Hot," which displays the contributions with the highest ratings over time. The score is calculated by subtracting downvotes from upvotes. If you are a registered user, the default tab is "Best." It displays the most-voted posts from all subreddits, but it also considers additional factors, such as previous contributions or subreddits that you have joined. This is a customized view that will also remove items from the main page that you have previously browsed through the next time you access it. This is done to keep the Best page up to date. Other tabs include "Rising," which displays new articles that are quickly receiving upvotes, and "Controversial," which employs an algorithm to identify which posts are the subject of competing ideas by analyzing the fluctuation of upvotes and downvotes.


What can I post on Reddit?

There are four different types of submissions: link, image, video, and text. All entries must include a title, which Reddit recommends to be intriguing but free of exaggeration and self-promotion.
 

Are there any Reddit ground rules?

Reddiquette advises that you be a civilised person and keep in mind that there is always a human being on the other side of the computer. Of course, spam and trolling are not permitted. While self-promotion is permissible, it must be done in moderation. Simply be careful of your actions and try to be considerate of others, and you will be alright.
 

Do subreddits have their own set of rules?

Yes, in addition to logical etiquette, each subreddit has its own set of regulations that you must study and follow before posting or commenting. Some subreddits, such as r/pics(opens in a new tab), may only accept picture uploads and not external links. Others, such as r/science, will want you to be more descriptive in your posts (opens in new tab). It's usually a good idea to study the rules of a subreddit before making a submission.
 

What exactly is a flair?

Some subreddits will ask you to add a flair to your entry that describes what it is about. Example: Phones, Desktop/Laptop, TV/Projectors, Music, and Transportation are some of the subreddits on r/gadgets(opens in new tab).

Some subreddits even enable you to add a customized flair to your username. This is a great way to showcase your personality or hobbies. For example, on r/nfl(opens in a new tab), you may change your flair to represent your preferred team so that everyone knows who you support anytime you submit.


Is there any additional consequence to upvotes, and what is karma?

People's votes for and against your posts and comments are added to your "karma." The more karma you have, the more respected you are in the community. Reddit karma, on the other hand, cannot be redeemed, and there are no awards or benefits for earning a particular quantity of it. It's simply a score that indicates how active you are on the website.
 

Is it possible to lose karma on Reddit?

You lose points on your global karma if someone votes badly on one of your posts. But don't be too concerned. The goal of Reddit is not to collect karma points, but to learn, have fun, waste time, or contribute to the discourse in a productive or humorous way.

Is it possible for me to get banned from Reddit?

Yes, you can get banned from Reddit if you spam or try to use the platform to propagate hate and hostility. It will not prevent you from reading, but it will prevent you from participating. And once you've been blacklisted, you're out for good. Again, just be aware and play by the rules. You have nothing to worry about if you follow the rules of each subreddit and are a kind person.


Can I be banned from a Reddit subreddit?

Yes, moderators have the authority to ban you for breaking the rules. There are several types of moderators. Some are stricter than others, but if you don't follow the rules on a regular basis, any moderator will swiftly ban you. Being banned from a specific subreddit just restricts you from posting on that forum; you may still browse while banned. You can also continue to submit to other subreddits on the internet.
 

Can I get my ban lifted?

You may always ask the moderators questions. They may reinstate you if you tell them you didn't read the regulations or didn't know about something. However, there are no guidelines for this. It is at the discretion of the moderators, who are community members rather than paid employees.


Can others see my Reddit activity?

On your user profile, others may view your posts and comments. They have no access to your likes or subscriptions. Users can also choose to follow you.


Are there any Reddit mobile apps?

Yes. In fact, utilizing the applications on both smartphones and tablets improves the whole experience. There are official Android(opens in new tab) and iOS applications available. If you want to try something else, you may use any of the third-party applications available for iOS and Android (opens in new tab).
  Reddit is essentially a vast set of forums where registered users may discuss practically anything they want, from news to pop culture to technology to comics, cinema, literature, and the strangest things in the world, including some highly NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content.

What exactly is the Reddit app, and how does it function?

It is a social network where users submit posts that other users 'upvote' or 'downvote' depending on how much they like them. If a post receives a large number of upvotes, it rises in the Reddit rankings, allowing more people to view it. If it receives downvotes, it soon lowers and fades from most people's attention.

What makes Reddit so unique?

Unlike many of its ad-supported competitors, Reddit prioritises user feedback when determining what to display first. Reddit's unique upvote and downvote method allows it to detect not just what people like, but also what they don't like, in real time and with high accuracy.

Is Reddit a good place to learn?

If you want to make your ideas a reality, here is the place to be. Reddit is an excellent resource for learning, sharing, and making new friends. Communities like this bring people together and allow them to build something new in a world that is becoming more tightly bound than ever before.

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