A Beginner’s Guide to Using Reddit
It’s been referred to as ‘the front page of the internet’, so wanting to get involved with the Reddit community is completely understandable.
But when you land on the homepage for the very first time, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. Reddit is a site with its own rules, structure, and even its own language.
If you’re keen to get in on the Reddit action, read this quick guide and learn the ropes before you plunge in.
So what is Reddit?
Reddit is a content democracy based on a system of voting. It’s a place to learn the latest news and find a sense of community.
Once you start using it, you’ll find that Reddit is a culture more than a site, which means it’ll be difficult to grasp on day one. Like turning up on the first day of school and expecting to be accepted into the clique right off the bat.
There are lots of in-jokes and community references, and although these might feel a little alienating at first, they’re the very same things that’ll make you feel like part of the family further down the line.
How does Reddit work?
Subreddits
These are the channels on Reddit. If you’re new, you’ll automatically be subscribed to the top subreddits, like Technology, Music, and Gaming. As you continue using Reddit, you’ll find more subreddits to subscribe to.
Multireddits
These are customizable groups that you can put your subreddits in. They’ll sit neatly in your side nagivation bar so you can easily get to where you want to be.
Upvoting
Help improve the rank of items by upvoting them. If they get enough upvotes, they’ll appear on the Reddit homepage.
Downvoting
If something wasn’t helpful or interesting, you can give it a downvote.
Score
The number of upvotes and downvotes on an item will affect its overall score. The score sits between the up arrows and down arrows. The number of upvotes minus the number of downvotes gives you that item’s score.
Karma
Karma is earned as you continue to use Reddit. It’s based on how many upvotes and downvotes your posts and comments have gathered since you opened your account.
Learn the Reddit Lingo
We weren’t kidding when we said that the Redditor’s have their own language. Here’s how to crack the code:
TL;DR – Too long, didn’t read
If someone has posted a wall of text, it’s not uncommon to see this in response.
HIFW – How I feel when…
Use this in tandem with a GIF that expresses your extreme emotional reaction to any given subject.
FTFY – Fixed that for you
Typically used when someone bests or outdoes a claim made by another Redditor.
OP – Original poster
This is used when referring to the person that originally started the thread or post in question.
ITT – In this thread
Use this when you want to generalize about the community within one specific thread.
Before you post…
Don’t forget to brush up on your Reddiquette. Don’t spam and never resort to asking others to upvote your content. Each subreddit has its own rules that must be followed, so don’t forget to check these out before you post.
Feeling Reddit ready? Head on over to the site and get involved with the global discussion.