AutoModerator
Also called: automod, auto moderator, u/AutoModerator, automod rules
Definition
AutoModerator (AutoMod) is Reddit's built-in rules engine for moderators. Mods write rules that check every new post and comment, then automatically remove, filter, report, flair or reply to it based on keywords, domains, karma, account age or Contributor Quality Score.
AutoModerator is the reason so many first comments on Reddit vanish within seconds. No human read them. A rule on the subreddit's AutoMod page matched, and the comment was removed or held for review before anyone saw it.
How it works
AutoMod's configuration lives on a wiki page in each subreddit, at config/automoderator. Each rule is written in YAML and pairs checks with actions. Reddit's full documentation lists the checks. The ones that matter most to new or promotional accounts:
- Text and domain checks: keywords in the title or body, or links to specific domains.
- Karma thresholds:
comment_karma,post_karma,combined_karma, plus subreddit-only versions such ascombined_subreddit_karma. - Account age:
account_age, with units from minutes to years. - Verification:
has_verified_email. - [Contributor Quality Score](/glossary/contributor-quality-score/):
contributor_quality, one of five tiers from lowest to highest.
A simple rule looks like this:
type: comment
author:
combined_karma: "< 20"
contributor_quality: "< high"
action: filter
action_reason: "karma minimum"The actions are approve, remove, spam, filter and report. Filter is AutoMod's own action: it removes the item but keeps it in the mod queue so a human can approve it later. Rules that can remove content are always checked before other rules, and moderators' own posts are exempt by default.
Reddit also lists what AutoMod cannot do. It cannot spot duplicate content, act on old content (only new posts, comments, reports and edits), or delay an action.
Two recent changes are worth knowing. Reddit's help pages say that in newly created communities, or ones that never used AutoMod, the enforcement actions (report, filter, remove, spam, approve) are no longer available, and mods use Reddit's Rules and Automation tools instead. And the Poster Eligibility Guide reads AutoMod configs to tell users which karma, account age or email criteria they fail before they post. Reddit does not show the exact thresholds, "to deter potential misuse."
Why it matters for marketers
Most removals of brand comments are AutoMod, not a person. Reddit's transparency report for July to December 2025 says 68.6% of mod removals were handled by automated systems such as AutoModerator.
That has practical consequences:
- A new account with low karma can be filtered in every subreddit that sets a karma requirement or account age requirement, no matter how good the comment is.
- A product domain can be on a block list. Your comment is removed the instant it contains the link.
- AutoMod usually does not tell you. Unless the rule sends a message or posts a reply, the result is a shadow removal: your comment may look normal to you while it is missing for everyone else.
Example
A SaaS founder with a two-week-old account comments "We built a tool for exactly this" plus a link in a large subreddit. AutoMod has a rule filtering comments from accounts under 30 days old and another removing links to new domains. The comment is held in the mod queue until long after the thread has gone quiet.
Common mistakes
- Reposting the same comment several times after it disappears. Repetition looks like link spam and can get you banned.
- Assuming you are shadowbanned sitewide when one subreddit's AutoMod is the cause. The shadowban checker tests the account itself.
- Guessing thresholds by trial and error. Build real history in the community and ask the mods via modmail if unsure. Our guide on why Reddit posts get removed covers the checks in order.
Frequently asked questions
Is AutoModerator a real person?
No. It is an automated system built into Reddit that applies rules written by each subreddit's moderators. The u/AutoModerator account appears when it posts replies or scheduled posts.
Why was my comment removed by AutoModerator?
A rule in that subreddit matched your comment or your account: a keyword, a link domain, low karma, a young account or a low Contributor Quality Score. Mods can see the rule's reason in the mod log; you can ask them via modmail.