Is Reddit safe to use? Evaluating its security measures and remaining risks

How safe is Reddit in 2025?

Reddit is a popular message board website and app where users discuss nearly any topic you can think of. The conversations are hosted on subreddits, which are kind of like forums specializing in specific topics. Users can upvote or downvote posts and replies, which influences where the comment is found on the page (with the most popular answers often moving to the top of the thread).

Overall, Reddit is safe to use. It monitors the activity on its site and protects user information and data with the help of the following measures:

Encryption 

Reddit uses TLS encryption (via HTTPS) on the website and the app which helps prevent your activity and data from being intercepted. Additionally, data that is stored on Reddit’s servers (such as login credentials, private messages, and IP addresses) is encrypted at rest to protect it in the event of a data breach.

Spam & bot detection

Reddit uses both automated technology and community moderation to prevent spam, phishing, and suspicious bot activity. Machine learning algorithms monitor behavior patterns—such as rapid posting, vote manipulation, and suspicious link sharing—to identify bots or coordinated spam campaigns. Subreddit moderators can use tools like AutoModerator to automatically flag or remove rule-breaking content (without the need to look for it manually).

Two-factor authentication and activity history

Two-factor authentication (2FA) helps block other people from accessing your account if they are able to steal your password. Reddit uses 2FA through authenticator apps (like Google Authenticator or Authy) to generate a one-time 6-digit code for each login. Additionally, users can review their account activity to detect unfamiliar logins. 

Reporting features 

Users can report posts, comments, private messages, or profiles that violate site-wide rules or the ones outlined by subreddit moderators. Additionally, sophisticated tools like Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms are used to filter content that may be abusive or inappropriate. The automated and manual reporting features help prevent harassment, hate speech, and content related to drugs and child pornography from flooding the platform.

Bug bounty program

Reddit’s bug bounty program encourages cybersecurity enthusiasts and experts to find and report any security issues related to the platform. In partnership with HackerOne, the program pays researchers to identify and report any flaws that may put users’ passwords, private messages, or personal data (like email addresses or real names) at risk.  

To provide insight into what results these measures bring and how moderation is handled, Reddit issues Transparency Reports twice a year. The reports offer an in-depth look at content removal, bans and account suspensions, legal takedown requests, and government data requests. 

Is Reddit private? 

Reddit is relatively private in the sense that you don’t have to reveal your identity to use the platform. However, it’s not private in a way that it collects user data and tracks activity.

Here’s what helps keep your identity hidden:

• Reddit doesn’t require your real name. Instead, you can choose an alias or get one randomly assigned. 
• No account is needed to browse the platform and you can read through posts without logging in.
• You can delete your own content and account at any time. When you delete the account, comments aren’t deleted but your name is no longer shown. 
• Subreddit moderators cannot see your personal information, including your email address and personal messages.
• Reporting content is anonymous, and reports aren’t visible to community members or the user in question.

Privacy concerns around Reddit

Even though Reddit doesn’t require you to reveal your real name, it still collects a significant amount of data and tracks behavioral patterns. The platform argues that it collects data mainly for optimizing the user experience and filtering ad content.

Still, you should consider the following when using the popular message board website and app: 

• There’s no end-to-end encryption, meaning your private messages and account data aren’t encrypted from Reddit itself and could technically be accessed by staff or shared with authorities under legal request.
• Reddit collects a significant amount of user data, including the info you provide when creating an account, content you post both publicly and privately, your interactions with the platform and other users, device identifiers, approximate location, inferred demographics (based on your activity and content), and more. 
• Tracking for ads is on by default which means your behavior and interactions with the platform are automatically monitored to build advertising profiles. The gathered information is shared with third-party advertising and analytics partners, increasing the risk of user profiling and cross-platform tracking. 
• Reddit licenses user-generated content for AI training and research, leading to privacy and plagiarism concerns.
• The platform may soon implement features that will require revealing your true identity. While there aren’t many details yet, this is supposed to help prevent bots and keep Reddit human.

Is Reddit safe for kids and teens?

Reddit is no more and no less safe for children than any other social media platform. Nowadays, all of them pose basically the same risks related to self-esteem, misinformation, and inappropriate content.

Safety concerns for children using Reddit include:

• Content posted by users isn’t always accurate and may be used in inappropriate ways. Because most users choose to be anonymous, it’s difficult to know who is an authority on the subject and can be trusted. 
• Information may be biased, and “groupthink” is a common concern on Reddit. Children and teens may find false comfort in reading posts that confirm their viewpoints, which could potentially lead to reinforced misconceptions and a distorted sense of reality. 
• Predators could target children, connecting with them in different subreddits and sending them private messages. While this hasn’t been widely reported, the platform’s anonymity makes it susceptible to such risks.
• Comments and “downvotes” may affect self-esteem, especially for those who depend on external validation. 

Per Reddit’s rules, the minimum required age to create an account is 13 years old. However, age verification is not strictly enforced in many locations and is easily bypassed during signup.

Ultimately, Reddit is not inherently bad for teenagers, but it is necessary for parents to monitor their children’s activity and teach the importance of fact-checking and developing emotional intelligence.

What are the dangers of Reddit?

It’s important to note that Reddit isn’t much more dangerous than virtually any social platform—but that’s not to say there aren’t any risks when using it. Be aware of the following issues:

Metadata collection 

Reddit collects its fair share of metadata, including activity on the platform, browsing behavior, and your personal information. If the platform experiences a data breach, these details could reveal patterns about a person’s habits, identity, or even political and mental health interests. Additionally, you can’t fully delete all traces of your activity from Reddit’s backups or logs even if you delete an account, and Reddit doesn’t specify how long data is retained. 

User profiling

Reddit tracks and analyzes your activity to build a detailed digital profile. Over time, profiling may reveal sensitive details about your interests, beliefs, health, or political views—often without your explicit consent or awareness. While this is typically used to personalize ads or content, it can also lead to invasive targeting, manipulation, and even identification, especially when combined with data from third-party partners. 

Harassment and hate speech

Like on many online platforms, some risks come from other users. Reddit isn’t free from people who promote hateful ideas, including racism and misogyny. There have been numerous reports of cyberbullying and even entire subreddits dedicated to bullying people, some cases ending with tragic results, including suicide. 

Phishing scams

People discuss highly personal subjects on Reddit, and even form friendships—so it’s easy to get caught up in a conversation and forget that, in the end, you’re interacting with strangers online. Scammers take advantage of this and either try to elicit your personal information during a conversation or send links designed to steal your credentials and other sensitive details.

NSFW content

As of mid-2025, Reddit still allows pornography and other NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content, making it one of the few major platforms that hosts adult material openly. This includes everything from explicit photos and videos to fetish communities and sexual discussions. NSFW content is hosted within specific subreddits that are marked as such, and users must opt in (or have settings enabled) to view it. However, Reddit does not verify age with strict tools and minors can easily access adult content by entering a false birthdate.

Is Reddit reliable?

Overall, Reddit is a relatively reliable place to learn about many different topics, as long as you don’t use it as your sole source of information. Most content is user-generated, and it’s more or less impossible to know if someone is truly an authority on a topic—you just have to take their word for it. 

Consider these factors:

• Misinformation can spread quickly on social platforms like Reddit. The system of upvoting and downvoting does put some checks and balances on what is being posted, but it isn’t a foolproof solution. Anyone can share “expert” advice on just about anything—you should never take something as a proven fact just because you read it online.
• Upvoting is not necessarily the best form of ranking the legitimacy of content. It can be biased based on how long someone has been on Reddit or how popular (or unpopular) an opinion is. 
• Groupthink, a phenomenon where people conform to the dominant opinion of a group, is common on platforms where any kind of communities form. Subreddit participants may ignore or criticize alternative viewpoints, and comments may be deleted or hidden even if you aren’t breaking the rules.
• Bots may still be encountered on Reddit even despite the measures taken against them. They are typically used to spread false information or troll other members. In one experiment, conducted by researchers from the University of Zurich, AI-generated comments were left using fake personas to tailor persuasive arguments based on inferred personal traits of the user who was targeted. As a result, the bots achieved persuasion rates three to six times higher than typical human responses—demonstrating both the effectiveness and the ethical hazards of AI-driven manipulation.

Can you get a virus from Reddit?

Reddit itself is safe from viruses. However, scammers can post malicious links in comments, messages, or posts that may lead to phishing sites or download harmful software if clicked. Though Reddit uses a combination of automated systems and spam filters to flag and block suspicious links, it doesn’t scan all the posted content, so threats may slip through.

Scammers may also pose as Reddit moderators and admins, claiming there’s an issue with your account and sending a “helpful” link—which downloads malware on your device or extracts your personal information.

How to stay safe on Reddit

Protect your identity

Reddit allows you to stay anonymous—take advantage of this and choose a nickname or a random pseudonym when you sign up. Don’t share any information that could reveal your identity in your profile or when interacting with other users. If possible, sign up with a burner email or the one you use for non-essential services to keep your personal one private.

Enable 2FA

Set up two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to your account. While this does make the login process a bit longer, it’s a robust protection that makes a huge difference.

Opt out of personalized ads

To reduce the amount of tracking and behavioral profiling, open the Privacy settings, scroll to Ads personalization, and disable personalized ads based on your activity and the use of information from Reddit’s partners to show you more relevant ads to limit cross-platform profiling. 

Use Reddit without logging in (for read-only)

Content on Reddit is available online for anyone to read without having to log in or create an account. The safest way to read information is by simply using a web browser and accessing it as you would any web page. 

Don’t click on unknown links 

Avoid clicking links in subreddits or private messages as they may take you to malicious pages or install spyware on your device. If you really need to open a link, don’t click on it but copy and paste it into another browser bar instead—to check if the pasted URL matches the one that was posted on Reddit.

Avoid engaging with trolls

The sole aim of trolls is to anger other people—they aren’t capable of evaluating facts or taking feedback, which makes arguments with them simply pointless. Prioritize your mental health and avoid engaging with negative comments.

Fact-check information 

It’s crucial to fact-check any information you find on Reddit as you don’t know who it’s really coming from. This is especially true if you are exploring subjects like physical or mental health, finances, history, and legal issues.

Extra tips for parents

Children are vulnerable to many of the same dangers as adults, but may not know what red flags to look for and how to cope with negativity—they are only learning how to think critically and process emotions. Follow these steps to keep your children safer if they use Reddit:

• Supervise activity to know what subreddits your child follows. When a user joins a subreddit, the group will be added to a list of subscriptions/ communities. 
• Disable NSFW content through account settings. This will stop the content from appearing in the feed or search results.
• Disable private messages or whitelist those who can contact the account in the privacy settings.
• Discuss upvotes and downvotes to teach your child how to devalue the importance of feedback online, especially when it’s coming from anonymous users.
• Disable device notifications and suggestions so they don’t constantly pop up on the screen and distract the child.
• Use parental control apps to filter content, limit screen time, and track app activity.
• Most importantly, teach critical thinking so your children know how to process and react to content online. Between knowing what information is factual to understanding what’s right and wrong, the content found on Reddit often requires critical thinking skills that most kids—especially before they’re teenagers—haven’t fully developed yet.

FAQs

Is Reddit anonymous browsing safe?

Browsing on Reddit anonymously is safe, but privacy-focused users often use a VPN or incognito browser (since the platform collects IP addresses and other data). When using the website or app, your location, what subreddits you visit, and what device you’re using are typically collected.

Is Reddit safe from hackers?

Reddit is more or less safe from hackers—if you don’t accidentally expose personal information (phone numbers, full name, or email) yourself. The platform uses TLS encryption to scramble messages and data when in transit from your browser to its servers, and while at rest. 

Are links on Reddit safe?

Reddit doesn’t proactively scan all links for malware or phishing attempts, so you should always be careful anytime you click on a link from a stranger. If the comment or subreddit itself is new, you should take extra precautions. You can hover over the link to make sure it’s the official site before visiting, or scan links using tools like VirusTotal.

Is Reddit a safe app?

The Reddit app is safe as it employs industry-standard protections like TLS encryption, hashed passwords, and two-factor authentication (2FA) to safeguard accounts and data in transit. It also has systems in place to detect spam, bots, and suspicious activity, along with a bug bounty program to identify vulnerabilities. However, Reddit doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption, meaning your activity and chats can potentially be accessed by Reddit staff. It also collects a fair amount of user data, which is used for behavioral profiling and sharing with ad partners. 

Is Reddit inappropriate?

Reddit does allow some NSFW content, including graphic material and explicit discussions. It’s typically labeled, but still can be easily accessed. Additionally, some subreddits may expose users to hate speech, harassment, or scams, posing reputational or emotional risks if not navigated carefully.