Reporting a subreddit to Reddit admins is an important way to address issues like harassment, hate speech, or illegal content on the platform. While individual posts and comments can be reported, sometimes an entire subreddit perpetuates harm. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to properly report a problematic subreddit to Reddit admins.
Table of Contents
Why Report a Subreddit
There are a few key reasons you may want or need to report an entire subreddit:
- The subreddit consistently allows or promotes hate, harassment, violence, illegal activities, sexualization of minors, or other serious violations of Reddit’s Content Policy.
- The subreddit moderators are not addressing violations of Reddit’s rules and policies.
- You have reported individual pieces of content but broader subreddit rules or culture enable the violations.
Reporting the subreddit itself alerts Reddit admins to larger issues that may require warnings, quarantining, or banning the subreddit altogether. This helps improve safety and reduce policy violations on Reddit.
How to Report a Subreddit
Reporting a subreddit requires contacting Reddit admins directly. Here are step-by-step instructions:
1. Gather Evidence
Document evidence of the policy violations perpetuated in the subreddit. This includes direct links to:
- Specific posts showing violations
- Comments showing violations
- Subreddit rules or descriptions that enable violations
- Moderator actions (or inaction) allowing violations
The more evidence you can provide, the more effectively you can demonstrate systemic issues in the subreddit.
2. Write a Summary
Write 1-2 paragraphs summarizing the issues with the subreddit. Be clear and concise. Make sure to:
- Note which policies are being violated
- Provide context about the violations
- Explain how moderators enable issues
- List the evidence you have documented
This summary gives Reddit admins the background needed to evaluate your report.
3. Submit the Report
There are a couple ways to submit your report to Reddit admins:
- Via Reddit’s Report Form: Select “I want to report other issues” then “A subreddit” and fill out the form.
- Via This Request Form: Select “I want to report a subreddit” and complete the report.
In both forms, include your summary and links to evidence of violations. Be sure to use a valid email so admins can contact you with any questions.
What Happens After Reporting
After submitting your report, here is what you can expect:
- Admin Review: Reddit admins will review your report and may reach out with any clarifying questions.
- Action Taken: If admins agree the subreddit perpetuates violations, they may issue warnings, quarantine, ban, or take other actions against the subreddit.
- Outcome Notification: You will receive an email notifying you of actions taken, though specifics may not be provided.
- No Action: If admins do not agree violations have occurred, no public action may be taken.
Admin response time can vary greatly depending on report volume and severity. Patience is key.
Best Practices for Reporting
To ensure your report is as effective as possible, keep these tips in mind:
- Document thoroughly: The more evidence of violations you can provide, the better. Screenshots, links, and archives are all helpful.
- Be objective: Stick to factual descriptions of violations instead of subjective assessments or opinions. This helps focus the report on policy issues.
- Check site rules carefully: Ensure the issues clearly violate Reddit’s Content Policy or other rules before reporting.
- Follow up if needed: If your initial report does not yield a response, you can file additional reports highlighting new evidence.
Reporting subreddits that perpetuate harm takes time and effort. But it can lead to safer communities and reduced policy violations on Reddit. Carefully documenting issues and writing objective summaries helps Reddit admins take appropriate action. With more users properly reporting subreddit violations, Reddit can better enforce its rules and standards.
