Quick Links
Reddit is a popular social media site that allows users to join communities based on their interests. However, Reddit can be daunting because it looks much different than other social media apps like Instagram and Facebook. These are the features I use the most as a Reddit user which improve my experience on the app.
1Creating Custom Feeds
As you join different communities on Reddit, known as subreddits, the home page will aggregate all of the posts from the subreddits you’ve joined. I like to build feeds for certain interests, so I use Reddit’s option to create custom feeds often. This is helpful to check Reddit for specific posts, like updates on sports, to avoid scrolling through all of my subreddits.
To create a custom feed, click on thethree horizontal barson the top left of the homepage or swipe right to bring up theYour Communitiesbar >Custom Feeds>Create Custom Feedand add a name for your feed. Now you can click on your custom feed andAdd Communitiesyou’d like to see on the custom feed. For example, if you’re looking to stay up to date on NFL news, you could add r/NFL and r/NFLDraft to your custom feed.
We ranked Reddit as one of thetop social media websites to use in 2023, so the features and customization across the app foster unique discussion you can’t find on other major social media platforms. There are also plenty oftips for new Reddit users when setting up an account.
2Upvoting Content You Like
Like other social media apps, Reddit suggests different subreddits to join based on your activity on the website or in the app. To “like” content, Reddit uses an upvote system which is an arrow underneath a text post, photo, or video. Essentially, one upvote equals one like.
I like to upvote content that I find informative or that makes me laugh. There is also the option to downvote, which serves as the dislike option. Additionally, I like to comment on different posts to further engage by making a joke, answering a question, or giving my own two cents on a topic. Based on your upvote and comment history, Reddit will suggest other communities to join while you’re scrolling through your home page.
Reddit has subreddits spanning gaming, memes, tips for job hunting, and just about every other category you can imagine. This guide has a list ofsome of the funniest subreddits that will make you laughif you’re looking to add some humor to your Reddit scrolling.
3Sorting Feeds in Individual Subreddits
There is a way to exclusively look at past top content within a specific subreddit. I like to use this feature when I find a new subreddit to join. To do this, enter the subreddit you’d like to look at, click thethree dotsin the upper right corner, and select whether you’d like to sort posts within that subreddit byHot, New, Top, Controversial,orRising.
The “Top” option will show you the most upvoted posts of all time within the subreddit, and “Rising” will display posts that are getting lots of recent engagement. I like to use the option to sort by New on r/NFL when big news breaks to see what others in the community are saying.
4Leaving Subreddits You’re Not Interested In
Sometimes I join a subreddit that is relevant to me at that moment, but a few months may pass and I’m not interested in that subject anymore. To leave a subreddit, you’re able to go to the subreddit, click thethree dotsin the upper right corner, and selectLeave.
5Muting Subreddits
Even after I leave a subreddit, posts from the community may still pop up as recommended for me on my home page. This is when I use the mute feature. To mute a subreddit, navigate to the subreddit you want to mute, click thethree dotsin the upper right corner, and selectMute, which is right above theLeaveoption from the previous tip.
You can still visit the subreddit, but the subreddit you mute will no longer pop up while you’re scrolling the home page.
6Reddit’s Premium Subscription
The free version of Reddit has ads. The ads pop up on the home page as you’re scrolling, and ads also appear in the comment sections of posts. If you would like to browse Reddit ad-free, you can upgrade to Reddit Premium. Premium costs $6.99 per month or $59.99 per year and boasts other features including a members-only subreddit and custom app icons.
To register for Reddit Premium, click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the home page >Settings>Get Premium.
You can alsoadd a profile picture or change your current Reddit profile pictureby following these steps.
7Enabling Not Safe For Work (NSFW) Mode
Reddit does have some content that viewers may want blurred while scrolling. I like to blur certain explicit or violent content so I can use Reddit worry-free in public by enabling Not Safe For Work mode. If you’re using iOS, go to your phone’sSettingsapp >Reddit>Blur NSFW Images.
On Android, you can access this option in the Reddit app. Tap on your profile icon, selectSettingsand scroll down toBlur NSFW Imagesand make sure it’s toggled on.
8Clicking Not Interested on Recommended Posts From Other Subreddits
Sometimes Reddit will keep recommending posts from subreddits that don’t match my interests on my home page. To get Reddit to stop doing this, click thethree horizontal dotsat the top right of the individual post and selectShow fewer posts like these.
9Searching Within Specific Subreddits
If you’re looking for a specific topic that falls under the umbrella of a subreddit category, Reddit also has a search feature within subreddits. For example, I recently searched r/NFL for information about the latest NFL draft.
To do a specific search, you can simply go to the subreddit and click themagnifying glassat the top right corner of the subreddit page and type in your search term. This will pull all posts from the subreddit that contain your search term, allowing for individual subreddit-based searching.
There is also a feature that allows you tosearch for images and videoson Redditexclusively through the media tab. There are even more helpful tips to make yoursearching more efficient across Reddit,as well.
Reddit offers discussion posts across every interest, giving space for everyone to engage in upvoting and communicating with like-minded individuals. Whether you’re browsing Reddit to look at memes, troubleshoot a new cooking recipe, or obtain job advice, Reddit can provide information and entertainment across any subject.
