What is Reddit and How to Create your Community

Learn how to create a community on Reddit with this comprehensive guide. Discover the step-by-step process to become a moderator, choose a memorable subreddit name, and set privacy preferences. Start engaging with like-minded individuals and share your passions by creating a community on Reddit today.

How Does Reddit Work?

Reddit, the social news website and forum, has become a go-to platform for thousands of communities, fostering endless conversations and facilitating authentic human connections.

Whether your interests lie in breaking news, sports, TV fan theories, or the internet’s cutest animals, Reddit offers a diverse range of communities catering to every niche.

Understanding Reddit

At its core, Reddit functions as a socially curated content platform where members contribute and promote content through voting. The name itself is a clever play on the words “I read it.” Registering as a Reddit member is free and necessary to access the website’s basic features.

Unlocking Enhanced Features with Reddit Gold

For a monthly fee or annual subscription, users have the option to upgrade to Reddit Gold, a premium service offering a set of extended features not available to non-paying users. These features include access to exclusive communities and the ability to disable sidebar advertisements.

Subreddits: The Building Blocks of Reddit

Reddit comprises hundreds of subcommunities called subreddits. Each subreddit focuses on a specific topic, ranging from technology and politics to music and more. The site’s front page, commonly referred to as the homepage, displays popular posts from default subreddits such as “pics,” “funny,” “videos,” “news,” and “gaming.”

Content Submission and Voting

Redditors, as Reddit members are called, submit content that is then voted upon by other members. The aim is to elevate well-regarded content to the top of the site’s front page. Content is voted on using upvotes and downvotes, which are represented by arrows located to the left of each post.

The more upvotes a post receives, the more popular it becomes, and the higher it appears on its respective subreddit or the front page. Users can access a subreddit directly by typing “reddit.com/r/subreddit name” in the address bar.

Navigating Reddit

Upon visiting the front page, users encounter a collection of text posts, link posts, images, and videos. When not logged into a Reddit account, the front page displays the default subreddits.

After creating an account, users are automatically subscribed to predefined subreddits, but can choose to unsubscribe from those in which they are not interested. They can also subscribe to other subreddits to personalize their front page with content in line with their preferences.

Once users have created an account and then subscribed to reddit, they can navigate the network by taking a look at all the Reddit threads.

Engaging through Comments

Reddit’s commenting system is a core feature and a primary means of interaction among users, alongside private messaging. Users can comment on posts, and these comments, like posts, can be voted on and ranked accordingly. The comment with the highest number of votes appears at the top of the comment section, earning the title of “top comment.”

Reddit’s History and Controversies

Reddit was founded by Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian in 2005. Initially acquired by Condé Nast Publications in 2006, Reddit split from the company in 2011 and is now operated under Advance Publications. Notably, Reddit has been involved in several controversies over the years, some of which have garnered significant media attention.

Site Statistics and User Demographics

As of now, Reddit stands as the 24th most-visited website globally and the 7th most-visited website in the United States. According to web traffic data and analytics company Alexa Internet, 46.9% of Reddit’s visitors come from the United States. A 2016 study by the Pew Research Center revealed that 71% of Reddit’s audience is composed of men.

How to Create a Community?

Reddit has gained immense popularity thanks to its vibrant user-driven communities called subreddits. These subreddits allow users to create communities based on their interests and engage in conversations about their passions.

Account Requirements

To create a subreddit, you’ll need a Reddit account that has existed for at least 30 days and has accumulated a minimum amount of positive “karma” points. Karma points are earned when users post popular links or comments. While the exact threshold for creating a subreddit is undisclosed, it is not excessively high, allowing most active users to meet the requirement.

Creating a Subreddit

Once your account is eligible, log in to Reddit and navigate to your front page. Look for the “Create Community” button on the right-hand side of the screen. If you can click on it, congratulations! Your account is ready to create a subreddit. If not, either wait a little longer or continue earning karma points to meet the requirement.

Choosing a Name

Selecting a good subreddit name can be challenging since it needs to be memorable and concise, with a maximum of 20 characters. Considering the vast number of existing communities on Reddit, it’s possible that your desired name has already been taken.

Use the subreddit search function to verify its availability. If another user has already taken your chosen name, you’ll need to brainstorm and come up with an alternative.

Subreddit Creation Form

The creation process involves filling out a web form with essential details. Here’s what you need to know about each field:

• Name: This is the permanent name that will appear in your subreddit’s URL. It must be between 3 and 21 characters, without spaces or special characters.
• Topics: Choose primary and related topics from the provided drop-down menus, with a maximum of 25 topics.
• Description: Craft a clear and concise description of your subreddit to help new members understand its purpose.
• Community Type: Select the privacy level for your subreddit—Public, Restricted, or Private. Each option determines who can post, view, and comment on the subreddit.
• Adult Content: If your subreddit contains adult content, mark it as NSFW to restrict access to users who are 18 years or older.

Submitting the Subreddit

After completing the necessary fields and ensuring your subreddit name is satisfactory, click the “Create Community” button at the bottom of the form to submit your subreddit.

Promoting Your Subreddit

To attract attention to your subreddit, consider submitting a link to the /r/newreddits community or posting links in related subreddits. Ensure that your promotional activities comply with each subreddit’s rules and guidelines.

Moderator Privileges

As the creator of a subreddit, you become a moderator (mod) with certain privileges. Moderators can delete items, lock comments or threads, and label content as NSFW. Additionally, you gain access to Modmail, a communication tool for moderators to interact with other mods and handle user inquiries.

Conclusion

Creating your own subreddit on Reddit allows you to build a community centered around your interests and engage with like-minded individuals. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can become a moderator and shape the direction of your subreddit.

Embrace this opportunity to contribute to the vast and diverse Reddit ecosystem while adhering to community rules and fostering respectful engagement.