Every post you’ve ever made on Reddit is indexed, searchable, and permanent. Even after you delete your account. That’s not a bug — that’s the archive. Reddit is the front page of the internet — which means everything you post, comment on, and upvote is indexed, searchable, and permanent. Votes are up or down. The history is forever.
DO / DON’T
DO:
- Use caution when posting images or videos — watch for identifiable locations and personal details
- Be aware of privacy concerns when using your email or connecting accounts for registration
- Change your password periodically and enable Two-Factor Authentication
DON’T:
- Post anything you wouldn’t want seen by the general public — even in “private” or niche subreddits
- Connect with communities you don’t know or trust — people are not always who they say they are online
- Forget to remind family members to take similar precautions
Account Settings
Path: Homepage > dropdown (top right) > User Settings > Account
- Edit your email address here
- Edit connected Apple or Google accounts if you registered that way
- Deactivate your account from this page if needed
Customize Profile
Path: User Settings > Profile
- Display name and About: Do not put anything overtly personal here
- NSFW account setting: Adjust based on content you post
Safety & Privacy
Path: User Settings > Safety & Privacy
- Collapse potentially disruptive comments: Set to High
- Turn off ads, location, and activity tracking — turn all of these OFF
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Feed Settings
Path: User Settings > Safety & Privacy > Feed
- Adult Content: If enabled, turn on Safe browsing mode to blur content before it opens
Chat & Messaging
Path: User Settings > Safety & Privacy > Chat & Messaging
- Who can send you chat requests: Set to Nobody
- Who can send you private messages: Set to Nobody
- You can still add specific people to “Approved Users” or invite someone to chat via link when you choose to
Mobile Phone Settings
Apple/Android:
- Tap your profile avatar
- Tap “User Settings”
- Tap “Account Settings” or “Privacy” — scroll to access the same settings as desktop
All desktop settings are accessible via mobile by scrolling through the menu.
Go to reddit.com/settings/privacy and lock down your chat settings to Nobody. That’s the one most people skip — and it’s the one the usual suspects rely on.