Redditor
Also called: reddit user, reddit users, u/
Definition
A redditor is anyone with a Reddit account. Redditors are known by a username written as u/name, usually pseudonymous, and their profile shows karma, account age and their post and comment history.
A redditor is a Reddit user. Reddit uses the word itself in its help pages and announcements, usually lowercase. Usernames are written u/name, the same way subreddits are written r/name.
What a redditor's profile shows
Most redditors are pseudonymous. Reddit Help notes you can use your real name, but most users pick a username that does not reveal who they are. What other users see instead is behavior:
- [Karma](/glossary/karma/), split into post karma and comment karma.
- Account age, shown as Reddit Age on the profile card, plus a cake icon next to the username on their cake day.
- Post and comment history, unless they have changed their profile visibility settings.
- Followers, trophies, and any user flair they carry inside a specific community.
Why it matters for marketers
Redditors check each other. When a comment recommends a product, a common reaction is to click the username and scroll. If the account is three days old, has 2 karma and every comment mentions the same tool, readers conclude it is a shill and say so in replies. Moderators run the same check before removing it.
The flip side: an account with years of normal participation in the community carries weight. A recommendation from someone who has been answering questions in a sysadmin subreddit for two years reads very differently from a drive-by.
This is also why lurkers matter. Most people reading a thread never comment. They are judging the commenters too, including you.
Example
Two comments in a thread asking for a project management tool mention the same product. One is from a four-year-old account with a long history of answering process questions. The other is from a two-week-old account whose only comments mention that product. The first gets upvoted and the second gets reported. Same words, different redditor.
Common mistakes
- Using a brand-new account to recommend your own product. It looks exactly like what it is.
- Hiding that you work for the company where a subreddit requires disclosure. That breaks community rules and Reddit's "be authentic" rule.
- Running several accounts that back each other up. Voting or arguing from alt accounts on the same thread is vote manipulation or sockpuppetry.
- Tagging strangers. Typing u/name in a comment notifies that user, so tagging people to promote something is a fast way to get reported.
Frequently asked questions
Is "redditor" capitalized?
Reddit itself usually writes it lowercase ("redditors") in help pages and announcements. Either is understood.
Can other redditors see who I am?
Not unless you tell them. Reddit does not require a real name. Your username, karma, account age and public post history are visible.
What is the difference between a redditor and a moderator?
Every moderator is a redditor. A moderator is a redditor who also helps run a specific subreddit, with permissions to remove content and ban users there.