The basic steps to post on Reddit

To create a post on Reddit, you first need a free account. Go to reddit.com, click "Sign up" in the top right, enter a username and password, and verify your email. Once logged in, you can post to any public community (called a subreddit) that allows it.

Find the subreddit you want to post in by searching the name or browsing. Click "Create Post" or the pencil icon. Choose your post type: text, link, image, video, or poll. Add a title (required), then your content. Select the subreddit from the dropdown, add any tags the community requires, and click "Post." Your post goes live when ready and is visible to everyone on that subreddit and in Reddit's search results.

Some subreddits have rules that filter or remove posts automatically. You might see a message that your post needs moderator review, or it may be removed if it breaks community rules. The subreddit's sidebar or "About" tab shows what is and is not allowed.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Reddit username is public and tied to every post and comment you make, so choose one you are comfortable with others seeing.
  • Reddit stores your post content, your username, the time you posted, and your IP address (visible only to Reddit staff and subreddit moderators).
  • Posts remain on Reddit's servers even if you delete them, and third-party sites archive Reddit content regularly.
  • Subreddit moderators can see your post history and IP address; Reddit staff can see additional data including your email and browsing activity on Reddit.
  • Advertisers and data brokers can see your public posts and may use them to build profiles about your interests and behavior.

What Reddit collects when you post

When you create a post, Reddit records far more than just your words. The platform stores your username, the exact time of posting, the subreddit, your post content, and your IP address. Reddit also logs which device you used, your browser type, and how long you spent writing the post.

If you include images or video, Reddit stores those files on its servers. If your post contains links, Reddit may track clicks on those links. Reddit's privacy policy states that it collects this data to run the platform, prevent abuse, and improve its services — but it also uses this data to show you targeted ads based on your posting behavior and interests.

Who can see your post and for how long

Your post is public by default. Anyone on the internet can see it without a Reddit account, and search engines like Google index most Reddit posts. This means your post may appear in search results years after you write it.

If you delete a post, it disappears from your profile and from reddit.com, but copies often exist elsewhere. Third-party sites like Pushshift and Archive.org regularly save Reddit content. Some subreddits also have bots that automatically archive posts. Once your post is archived by these services, deleting it from Reddit does not remove it from those archives.

Subreddit moderators can see your post even after you delete it, along with your username and IP address. Reddit staff can see deleted posts too. If your post breaks Reddit's rules, moderators or Reddit may keep a record of it for enforcement purposes.

How moderators and Reddit staff use your data

Each subreddit has volunteer moderators who can see your post history, your IP address, and the exact time you posted. They use this information to enforce community rules and to identify spam or coordinated abuse. If you post the same content across multiple subreddits or use multiple accounts to boost a post, moderators can often detect it.

Reddit's staff can see additional information: your email address, your password (encrypted), your phone number if you provided one, your payment information if you bought Reddit Premium or made purchases, and your full browsing history on Reddit. Reddit uses this data to detect fraud, enforce its terms of service, and respond to legal requests from law enforcement.

Third parties who may see your posts

Reddit sells advertising space, and advertisers can see your public posts to understand what interests you. They cannot see your name or email, but they can see your username and everything you have posted publicly. Advertisers use this to build a profile of your interests and show you targeted ads on Reddit and across the web.

Data brokers — companies that buy and sell personal information — also collect Reddit posts. They scrape public posts and combine them with other data to sell profiles to marketers, employers, and other buyers. Your posts may be used to infer your age, location, income, health status, political views, and shopping habits.

If you post in communities related to health, mental health, addiction, or other sensitive topics, that information may be collected and sold. There is no way to prevent this once your post is public, even if you later delete it.

Settings that affect what you share when posting

Reddit offers a few privacy controls, though they are limited. In your account settings under "Privacy & Safety," you can turn on "Private Profile," which hides your post history from other users. However, this does not hide your posts from Reddit staff, moderators, advertisers, or data brokers — it only hides them from other Reddit users browsing your profile.

You can also turn off "Allow Reddit to use data provided by third parties to show you more relevant ads," but Reddit still collects the data; this setting only limits how it is used. Some subreddits let you post anonymously within that community, but Reddit still knows who you are behind the scenes.

There is no setting to prevent moderators from seeing your IP address or post history. If you want to reduce what Reddit collects, you can use a VPN (which masks your IP address) or post less frequently, but Reddit will still store your username, post content, and timestamp.

What to consider before posting sensitive information

Posts about health conditions, financial struggles, relationship problems, or other sensitive topics can be used to build a detailed profile of who you are. Even if you use a throwaway account (a temporary username created just for one post), Reddit still logs your IP address, which can be linked back to you if someone has access to that data.

Subreddit moderators in communities focused on mental health, addiction, or medical issues can see your post history across all subreddits. If you post in r/depression and then in r/fitness, a moderator can see both posts under your username. This means your posts in different communities can be connected to build a fuller picture of your life.

If you post identifying details — your location, your job, your age, or other specifics — other users can often piece together who you are. Once that happens, your post history becomes a permanent record tied to your real identity on the internet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I post anonymously on Reddit?

You can use a throwaway account with a generic username, but Reddit still logs your IP address and knows it is you. If someone with access to Reddit's data (moderators, staff, or law enforcement with a warrant) wants to connect your throwaway to your main account, they can do so using your IP address. True anonymity is not possible on Reddit.

What happens if I delete my post?

Deleting a post removes it from your profile and from reddit.com, but copies often exist on third-party archive sites. Moderators and Reddit staff can still see deleted posts. If your post was popular or controversial, it was likely archived before you deleted it, and the archive will remain online indefinitely.

Can I stop advertisers from seeing my posts?

No. Once your post is public, advertisers and data brokers can see it. Turning off targeted ads in your settings does not prevent them from collecting the data — it only limits how Reddit uses it. The only way to prevent this is to not post publicly or to use a VPN and avoid identifying details.

Do subreddit moderators work for Reddit?

No. Moderators are volunteers who manage individual subreddits. They have access to your IP address and post history within their subreddit, but they are not Reddit employees. However, they can report you to Reddit staff if you break rules, and they can ban you from their community.

How long does Reddit keep my posts?

Reddit keeps posts on its servers indefinitely unless you delete them. Even deleted posts may be recoverable by Reddit staff. Third-party archives keep copies forever. There is no automatic expiration date for Reddit posts.