I will unabashedly admit that, for all of its faults, I love Reddit. Despite its drawbacks, it is my favorite social media platform, and it also happens to be the world’s—and mine—favorite crowdsourcing platform. There is good reason for this. Reddit has over 50 million daily active users worldwide who are generating content on every subject imaginable. From the insanely popular r/AskReddit community (referred to as a “subreddit”), where you can “ask and answer questions that elicit thought-provoking discussions” to smaller communities like r/woodworking, r/Old_Recipies, and r/carpetcleaningporn, there is something for everyone.
Tip: if you are unable to locate the type of subreddit you are seeking, you can always ask for help on r/FindAReddit. Then, if you absolutely cannot find the community you’re looking for, you can create your own and then share it on r/NewReddits.
But Reddit is not perfect by any means. Since folks are posting anonymously, there are going to be people who say things they wouldn’t say to someone face to face [and this, unfortunately, is all too common on the internet in general], subreddit moderation can be hit or miss, some communities are downright toxic, and there have been controversies involving the company, itself. I’m sure there are plenty other gripes about it—legitimate and otherwise.
However, if you think about it, Reddit is simply a microcosm of the world at large, and your experience is all about what you make of it. If you love political discourse, you’ll find it. If you’re looking for help with Thanksgiving food preparation, you’ll find it. If you want to connect with others who share a passion for your favorite hobby, you’ll find it. And when you find what you like, go ahead and join the subreddit. The subreddits you join become the feed you see when you visit the site.
Tip: Reddit’s search function stinks; use Google to search for Reddit content and communities by typing “site: reddit” and then your search phrase:
If you read my post Lessons Learned: Miscellaneous Websites, you’ve already heard some of this. But I read something recently that really illustrates Reddit at its best, and I wanted to share it here. It’s not that it was the most amazing post ever. However, it was kind, and it was helpful.
A couple of days ago, in the r/Genealogy subreddit, user u/EThos29 was having trouble determining whether an ancestor had died or deserted during the Civil War. They also mentioned that they had requested the ancestor’s pension file from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA):
User u/theothermeisnothere responded and mentioned, among other useful information, that u/EThos29 would need to specifically request the ancestor’s medical records from NARA:
As someone who recently submitted a request for her ancestor’s Compiled Military Service Records, I had no idea that medical records needed to be requested separately! u/EThos29 was not aware either:
And this is the reason that, despite its drawbacks, I love Reddit for crowdsourcing. There is a large user base of people wanting to share, create, and discuss content on something they’re passionate about. Oftentimes, they are extremely knowledgeable and/or experienced in that subject area and will take the time to write detailed and reasoned responses to your questions.
And, fair warning, sometimes users are decidedly not the type people you want to answer your questions. As with people in general, Reddit is very much a mixed bag. Oftentimes Reddit’s voting system will weed out posts from this latter group, but always be judicious with the information you find on Reddit.
Also, keep in mind that when you post on Reddit, you simply never know what type of response you will get. Sometimes your post will be removed for not following subreddit rules [always thoroughly read the rules on each individual subreddit before posting!] Sometimes other users will be condescending, and you will wind up feeling like a moron. Sometimes you won’t receive any replies.
But then there are those wonderful redditors like u/theothermeisnothere, who make it all worth while. They didn’t come back with a snarky or condescending reply. Instead, they took the time to write a thoughtful, detailed post, which was definitely helpful to other redditors like u/EThos29 and I, who are researching their veteran ancestors.
Please do not let any of this prevent you from checking out Reddit. No one says you have to post right away. Feel free to bide your time until you make that first post; you will find plenty of content to consume without having to participate. That way, you can get a feel for Reddit culture and see if it’s the right place for you. I’m primarily a lurker, myself, but I’ll definitely chime in on the rare occasion when I can contribute in a meaningful way. And please do consider contributing once you’re comfortable doing so!
If I were to post my relationship status with Reddit on Facebook, it would be “it’s complicated.” There are aspects of the site that I do not like. At the same time, it’s an incredible place where I can curate my feed to reflect my many various interests. It’s also a great place to discuss your passion with others who share that same enthusiasm. I have also learned so much about everything because of Reddit, and I honestly feel like I am a more well rounded individual for that reason.
If you’re new to Reddit, I’d love to hear from you. I am also happy to answer any questions, and I may even be able to recommend some subreddits. If you’re already a regular user—or former user—also feel free to chime in. I’d love to hear from you as well.