Moderator
Also called: mod, mods, subreddit moderator, reddit mod
Definition
A Reddit moderator (mod) is a volunteer who runs a subreddit: writing its rules, removing posts and comments, banning users and configuring filters. Mods decide what is allowed in their community, within Reddit's sitewide rules.
Moderators are the people who run individual subreddits. They are not Reddit employees. Reddit staff are called admins, and they enforce the sitewide Reddit Rules. Mods enforce their own community's rules on top of that.
How it works
Reddit describes its moderation as layered. Users vote and report, volunteer mods enforce community rules, and Reddit's admins enforce the platform-wide rules with a mix of automated tooling and human review. Reddit says mods perform the majority of moderation actions on the platform.
Its own numbers back that up. In the July to December 2025 transparency report, 154,198,211 posts and comments were removed, 52.7% by mods and 44.7% by admins. Of the mod removals, 68.6% were handled by automated systems such as AutoModerator.
Day to day, a mod team works from a set of mod tools:
- Rules: the subreddit rules shown in the sidebar, which also become the report reasons users pick from.
- Queues: the mod queue of reported and filtered content waiting for review.
- Restricted users: banning and muting. A subreddit ban blocks posting and commenting in that one community.
- [Modmail](/glossary/modmail/): the shared inbox where users appeal bans or ask questions.
- Filters: AutoModerator, crowd control, the reputation filter and the ban evasion filter.
- Mod log: a record of every mod or admin action in the community for the last 90 days.
Mods also have obligations. Reddit's Moderator Code of Conduct sets expectations, and mods who ignore it can lose their mod privileges.
Why it matters for marketers
Mods decide whether your comment stays up. They do not need to prove your post broke a sitewide rule. If it breaks their community's rules, or simply reads like an ad, they can remove it, ban you, and add your domain to an AutoModerator filter. Reddit's own spam guidance says community moderators decide what counts as unwanted or spammy content in their communities.
Many subreddits publish a self-promotion policy, and some follow the 10% rule. Read it before you post. When the rules are unclear, a short modmail asking "is it OK to mention my product if someone asks for tools?" costs nothing and often gets a straight answer.
Example
A founder answers a "best invoicing tool for freelancers?" thread in a finance subreddit and links their product. The subreddit's rule 4 says "no self-promotion outside the weekly thread." A mod removes the comment, sends a removal reason, and issues a 7-day ban. The founder's account is fine sitewide, but that community is closed to them for a week.
Common mistakes
- Arguing with mods in public threads instead of using modmail.
- Treating a mod removal as a shadowban. A removal is local to one subreddit.
- Coming back on a second account after a ban. That is ban evasion and can get every account suspended sitewide.
Frequently asked questions
Are Reddit moderators paid by Reddit?
No. Moderators are volunteers from the community. Reddit's paid staff are called admins and enforce the sitewide rules.
Can a moderator ban me from all of Reddit?
No. A moderator can only ban you from the communities they moderate. Sitewide suspensions come from Reddit admins.
How do I contact a subreddit's moderators?
Use the "Message the mods" option on the subreddit, which opens modmail. Every mod on the team can see the conversation.