Reddit Empowers Users with New Profile Privacy Feature: Hide Posts and Comments

Reddit has introduced a new feature giving users greater control over their profile privacy. The update, announced on Tuesday, allows Redditors to curate what content is visible on their profiles, including posts and comments.

The core of this update is a new “Content and Activity” setting. This setting lets users choose which content from the subreddits they participate in is displayed on their profile. Previously, all posts and comments were automatically visible.

By default, the visibility of posts and comments remains unchanged. However, users now have the option to hide all their public posts and comments. Alternatively, they can selectively display posts and comments from specific communities while keeping others hidden, providing a flexible approach to managing their online presence.

The new settings can be found under the “Curate your profile” section. Alongside content visibility controls, users can also toggle NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content and activity, and choose to show or hide their follower count. This provides comprehensive control over their profile’s appearance.

This update introduces a new layer of privacy to Reddit. Before this feature, users often created throwaway accounts for sensitive topics. The introduction of the new feature could encourage more users to participate on the site, knowing they have more control over their privacy.

While this feature enhances privacy, it does not guarantee complete anonymity. Usernames remain visible alongside posts and comments within communities. Moreover, moderators retain access to a user’s public post and comment history for 28 days, which is essential for reviewing user behavior and managing communities.

Reddit has also introduced updated personal activity summaries. These summaries provide an overview of a user’s activity, including Karma count, total contributions, account age, and active communities, reflecting the new content visibility settings.

The move signals Reddit’s effort to balance user privacy with the platform’s need for data. By offering more privacy, Reddit potentially encourages greater engagement while still retaining valuable user data for ad targeting and platform improvements.