r/NewToReddit • u/efootball_thinker • 2d ago

ANSWERED How do I even get started?

I cannot Post or comment on any posts or subreddit. Help?

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Welcome to r/NewToReddit, /u/efootball_thinker! Thanks for posting. Your post has been flaired 'Needs attention' so we can easily identify which posts require answers. Someone will be along to help you shortly.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

2

u/ForeverInjured124 Super Contributor 2d ago

You were just about to post here. So you are able to post some places.

Reddit is the home of hundreds of thousands of individual communities called subreddits. Each has their own set of rules and culture around a specific topic or interest. They also have their own requirements to participate which can include things like account age, contributor quality score and karma. So some you won’t be able to participate in right away which is completely normal. Reddit’s karma system is essentially your reputation. Your karma increases by other users upvoting your contributions. You can also lose karma by receiving downvotes. Karma is to be earned organically by being genuinely helpful, positive or engaging. Asking for upvotes is not allowed as it’s considered vote manipulation.

Many groups use karma as a qualifier for contributing. If you don’t have enough karma, you won’t be able to comment or post in that particular group until you do. Commenting typically has less restrictions than posting, so I always recommend new users start with that first.

It can seem overwhelming, but I’d take some time to read through the following. 

Here’s a guide to help get started.

https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/categories/200073949-Getting-Started

It will help explain Reddit and karma requirements. 

Part of the reasoning behind karma requirements, beyond bots and bad actors, is that it shows you can be a valuable member of the community and know some of the basics of Reddit.

While starting out (and honestly just in general), I recommend you read more than you comment. And comment more than you post.

Reddit is not social media: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/s/dqK38QJQUL

You aren’t trying to build a brand or a following. You’re looking to add to existing communities. You can’t post what you want wherever you want, especially in the beginning. Being a good member of any community means listening…or in Reddit’s case, reading. 

Read Reddiquette: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439-Reddiquette

Read the rules of Reddit: https://redditinc.com/policies/reddit-rules

Read the rules / wiki / FAQs of any subreddit before commenting and posting. Every subreddit has their own rules and requirements and they can vary greatly from one another. Depending how you’re accessing Reddit, you’ll find them at the top of the group page or side panel: https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnToReddit/s/HJa00TL9gp

And just as important, read the room of any given sub. What are others asking and commenting? How are other members reacting to it? What’s the culture? Will what I have to say jive with the community? That doesn’t mean you can’t express an opinion that others might not agree with. On Reddit, it’s more often not what you say but how you say it that matters. 

Also, use the search function liberally. To find groups and existing conversations. New users are often chomping at the bit to post, but there is a very good chance something similar has been posted before.

Once you’ve gotten an idea of the basics, look for subs that align with your interests in r/findareddit or check out the list below of new user friendly subs with no or low karma requirements. Start by commenting meaningfully on posts where you can add value. People typically upvote posts and comments they find interesting, educational, humorous or relatable. Low effort comments don’t get upvoted or worse, get downvotes. Avoid controversial topics. And don’t comment for the sake of commenting. Provide helpful or insightful content on topics that interest you, are knowledgeable on, or where you have personal experience. !nufs

One final note: Upvotes are not likes, even though that’s how some people treat them. Conversely, downvotes aren’t meant to be dislikes.

The true purpose of upvotes is to denote that users think more people should see something. Whether it be an original post or a comment. So for a post, if it’s particularly interesting or unique to the subreddit / community. For comments, if it’s the best answer. Downvotes, on the other hand, denote users think less people should see something. So it’s unrelated, incorrect, rule breaking, redundant, rude, etc.

1

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Here's the New-user friendly subreddits you asked for :)

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

If you are experiencing removals, this is most likely because your account is new and you have no karma, and therefore you are running into community restrictions.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Basic_Opportunity675 2d ago

I’m confused about the karma I have

1

u/mikey_weasel Mod in a Canvas Hat 2d ago

see !karma comment below mine

1

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

What is karma?
Your karma count is like your Reddit reputation and an indication of whether you post and/or comment good content. Upvotes were designed as an indicator of what people think others should see (there is guidance on voting here in the reddiquette), and upvotes earn you karma. What is karma?

Why does it matter?
Some, but not all communities, have their own restrictions regarding the account age and karma count of the person posting or commenting, so you may not be able to contribute everywhere at first. This is intended to help prevent spammers and trolls, but it does also mean new Redditors need to earn some karma before they can participate everywhere. Most communities don't share what their restrictions are, but you can check their rules, sidebar/about tab, and pinned posts.

How do I get it?

  • You gain karma from engaging on Reddit; when your posts and comments are upvoted. It's a case of finding communities you can participate in, and that you have an interest or knowledge base in, and start by commenting to share your knowledge and experience, and add to discussions. As people upvote your comments, this will build your karma genuinely.
  • You don't need to engage where you have no interest. There are so many subs there's bound to be some where you do have an interest and can engage.
  • You lose karma only when your posts and comments are downvoted.

How can I see how much karma I have?
You should be able to see your karma count on your profile page. To see how much post or comment karma you have, view the karma breakdown:

  • On desktop click your avatar top right, then 'profile'. If you hover over where it says karma (top right area) it should pop up with the breakdown.
  • In app, tap your avatar top right, then tap karma. Or, tap your avatar, then 'profile', then 'about'.
  • Hover over or tap your username on any comment you have made.

For more check out these sections of our guide to Reddit: Karma | New-user friendly subs | Navigating Reddit
PLUS help from the community - Tips from redditors and Mod approved guides from helpers

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/MrDude038 2d ago

Make a post or two to get karma so you can comment. Then you can get karma from getting upvotes but also you can lose karma from downvotes. The more karma you have the more subreddits you will be able to get in (the last part is an im not too sure about) but yeah you need to get karma.

1

u/mikey_weasel Mod in a Canvas Hat 2d ago

Starting on Reddit can be complicated but newtoreddit is a good space to learn. This gets asked a fair bit so I put together the below information/advice/links to resources

There are a lot of resources in newtoreddit you might find useful with The Common Questions Page, Reddit And Karma Walkthrough, and Frequently Asked Questions Page. If you've already become frustrated check out Why Reddit may seem unwelcoming to new Redditors.

Things to do as a new user:

After learning about karma and subreddit karma filters you might start questions where to start.

Finding New User Friendly Subreddits:

  • Newtoreddit has a list of new user friendly subreddits. This is not an exhaustive list and these subreddits may still have some restrictions. In particular you'll see some Large General Subreddits that are open to new users Commenting like r/askreddit, r/casualconversation, r/nostupidquestions, r/amitheasshole or similar.
  • There are More Subreddits out there that might more specifically match your interests, use the search bar or look through r/findareddit 's subreddit directory. In this case you will have to trial and error whether they are new user-friendly, and again try Commenting (many subreddits have lower or no karma filters for commenting).

Some more notes on starting on Reddit:

View by New (or rising). This will filter the posts so first see the most recent posts first and can make your comments much more visible. On app when viewing a subreddit look near the top left for where it says "hot posts" - click that and select "new" or "rising".

Read the Room and Avoid Controversy. Each subreddit has different rules, norms and prevailing views. Look at subreddit rules. Read top posts and comments to get a feel for that subreddit. Do users reward sarcastic one-liners or well sourced essays? And in particular avoid controversial topics or arguments. These discussions are more likely to attract downvotes and potentially trip into rule-breaking. Call people idiots in your head and move on instead of getting involved. Utilize the block feature as necessary and have a read of Reddiquette.

1

u/Foxypats 1d ago

I am having the same issue. All my posts are being deleted because I do not have enough Karma points . So how do I earn those?

1

u/mikey_weasel Mod in a Canvas Hat 1d ago

Hey so this post is over 24 hours old with a bunch of comments.... soem.of which already answer your question

If you see a post and think "I also need this type of help" you're going to gain a LOT more by reading existing posts than just adding a comment like the one you did here