First published on TechCrunch
Reddit users can now take more control over their public footprint. On Tuesday, the company announced a new update that allows users to hide specific content, like posts and comments, from appearing on their public profiles.
This long-requested privacy feature is part of Reddit’s “Content and Activity” settings. It’s designed to give users the ability to choose what content from their subreddit activity remains visible. Users can now manage the visibility of their posts and comments by community, helping them curate their online presence without deleting anything.
Previously, all user activity was visible by default, pushing some users to create “throwaway” accounts when discussing sensitive topics. With Reddit’s new direction, especially after its IPO, the company appears to be aiming for more stable user identities that are ad-friendly, while still giving some level of content control.
Under the new “Curate your profile” section, Reddit users can now selectively hide or display content from individual subreddits. This includes options to toggle on or off NSFW content, control who sees follower counts, and manage what appears on a user’s main profile page.
The feature does not allow users to hide specific individual posts or comments. Instead, it works on a per-community basis. This simplifies the experience, making it easier to manage without going into detailed content sorting.
For users who want to ask personal questions or explore sensitive topics, like health concerns or relationship advice, this feature may help reduce hesitation. Now, they can participate in communities without worrying that every interaction will be visible to anyone browsing their profile.
The change could lead to higher engagement across Reddit. Knowing that their activity can be somewhat hidden, users may feel more comfortable participating in discussions they’d otherwise avoid.
However, Reddit reminds users that this setting doesn’t offer complete privacy. Posts and comments still show up in the communities where they’re made, with usernames attached. Additionally, moderators will retain access to a user’s history for up to 28 days, which helps with moderation efforts and requests such as joining private communities.
Reddit also clarified that if someone replies to a user’s profile post, the profile owner can temporarily view that commenter’s full post and comment history, even if the visibility setting is turned on.
Along with the privacy feature, Reddit introduced updated personal activity summaries. These summaries highlight a user’s Karma, total contributions, account age, and their most active communities, based on the new visibility settings.
As Reddit continues its transformation into a more advertiser-driven platform, this update strikes a balance between personalized data and user control. It encourages genuine participation while giving users peace of mind over how much of their online life is shared publicly.
