Reddit content policy
Also called: reddit rules, reddit sitewide rules, content policy, reddit tos
Definition
Reddit's content policy, now published as the Reddit Rules, is the set of eight sitewide rules that apply to every user and community. Reddit's admins enforce them with removals, warnings, temporary bans and permanent suspensions.
The content policy is the floor every subreddit sits on. Subreddit rules can be stricter, but no community can allow what the Reddit Rules ban. The old "content policy" URL now shows the Reddit Rules page.
The eight rules, in short
- Remember the human. No harassment, bullying, threats, or promoting hate.
- Abide by community rules. Participate authentically in communities where you have a personal interest, and do not spam or engage in disruptive behavior, including content manipulation.
- Respect the privacy of others. No sharing personal or confidential information, no intimate media without consent.
- No sexual or suggestive content involving minors.
- Be authentic. You don't have to use your real name, but don't intentionally mislead others or impersonate a person or entity.
- Label content properly, especially graphic, sexually explicit or offensive content.
- Keep it legal. No illegal content or prohibited transactions.
- Don't break the site or interfere with normal use of Reddit.
Reddit's transparency report says that in October 2025 it clarified the wording of Rule 2 (spam and community disruption), Rule 5 (impersonation and manipulated content) and Rule 7 (prohibited transactions), adding examples.
How it is enforced
Reddit's listed enforcement options run from "asking you nicely to knock it off" to temporary or permanent account suspension, restrictions on accounts and communities, content removal and community bans. Reddit's help center describes a typical ladder for repeat violations: a warning, then a 3-day ban, a 7-day ban, then a permanent ban. Serious violations can skip straight to a permanent ban. Users can appeal within six months.
Why it matters for marketers
Rules 2, 5 and 8 are the ones businesses break, usually without meaning to:
- Rule 2 covers spam, vote manipulation and ban evasion. Reddit's spam policy names mass-posting repetitive content "for the purpose of exposure or financial gain."
- Rule 5 covers posing as a customer of your own product or as an organization that doesn't exist. That is the core of astroturfing.
- Rule 8 covers bots and apps that pretend to be human, automated account creation and automated unsolicited DMs.
Spam is the single biggest category of admin enforcement. In July to December 2025, 54% of the 54,399,238 posts and comments admins removed were spam, and 76.7% of the 605,570 communities Reddit banned were banned for spam.
Example
A brand runs five accounts that each "recommend" its product in different threads and upvote each other. That breaks Rule 2 (content manipulation and vote manipulation) and Rule 5 (misleading others). If Reddit links the accounts, it can suspend all of them, not just the one that posted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Reddit content policy and the Reddit Rules?
They are the same thing. Reddit now calls its sitewide content policy the Reddit Rules, and the old content policy address shows the same eight rules.
Who enforces the Reddit content policy?
Reddit's admins, using automated detection, human review and user reports. Moderators enforce their own subreddit rules and are expected to remove and report sitewide violations they see.