Reddit Privacy Best Practices for 2022: Complete Protection Guide

Protecting your privacy on Reddit requires a multi-layered approach. Here's a comprehensive guide to Reddit privacy best practices for 2022, covering everything from account setup to ongoing maintenance.

Foundation: Account Setup and Security

Choose Privacy-Focused Credentials

Username Selection: ❌ Don't use:

Your real name
Birth year
Same username as other platforms
Workplace or location references

✅ Do use:

Unique, random username
No personal identifiers
Different from all other accounts
Non-memorable (prevents guessing)

Email Address: Create a dedicated email for Reddit:

Use email alias service (SimpleLogin, AnonAddy)
Or burner email (ProtonMail, Tutanota)
Never use work or primary personal email
Don't include real name in address

Password Security:

Use password manager (1Password, Bitwarden)
Generate unique 20+ character password
Never reuse passwords across sites
Change annually

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Why It Matters:

Prevents account takeover
Protects if password is compromised
Required for account recovery

Setup Process:

User Settings → Security & Privacy
Use authenticator app (Authy, Google Authenticator)
Save backup codes securely
Test before closing setup

Don't Use SMS 2FA: Less secure due to SIM swap attacks.

Privacy Settings Configuration

Navigate to Settings

User Icon → User Settings → Privacy & Security

Essential Privacy Settings

Profile Visibility:

Set to "Nobody" or "Only logged-in users"
Prevents Google indexing of profile
Reduces casual stalking

Search Indexing:

Disable "Show up in search results"
Prevents Reddit internal search from finding your profile
Doesn't affect post visibility in subreddits

Direct Messages:

Set to "Trusted users only" or "Nobody"
Reduces spam and harassment
Can whitelist specific users if needed

Chat Requests:

"Accounts older than 30 days"
Filters new account spam
Reduces harassment vectors

Activity Privacy:

Disable "Show active communities"
Turn off "Allow people to follow you"
Hide "Online status"

Personalization:

Disable "Personalize ads based on activity"
Turn off "Personalize recommendations"
Limit third-party data sharing

Additional Security Settings

Connected Apps:

Review and revoke unused authorizations
Only keep essential tools (like Redeleter)
Check quarterly for forgotten permissions

Login History:

Review active sessions
Log out suspicious devices
Note login locations for anomalies

Content Privacy: What You Post

Personal Information to NEVER Share

Location Data: ❌ Never mention:

Specific city or neighborhood
Street names or landmarks
Workplace location
Home address or nearby businesses
Unique local events

✅ Safe alternatives:

"Major city on East Coast"
"Medium-sized Midwest city"
"West Coast metro area"

Professional Details: ❌ Avoid:

Company name
Specific job title
Industry if highly specific
Coworker identifying details
Work schedule or location

✅ Safe alternatives:

"Tech company"
"Mid-size startup"
"Fortune 500"
General industry only

Personal Identifiers: ❌ Don't share:

Age or birth date
Gender (if privacy is important)
Physical descriptions
Medical conditions
Financial details
Family member specifics
Unique hobbies or combinations

Photos and Media: ❌ Never post:

Photos of yourself
Images with EXIF data
Pictures of unique locations
Screenshots with identifying info
Videos with voice or face

✅ If posting images:

Strip EXIF data first (use ExifTool)
Crop out identifying elements
Use throwaway image hosts
Consider if image reverse-search could identify you

The Puzzle Piece Problem

Individual details seem harmless but combine to identify you:

Example Combination:

30-year-old
Software engineer
Seattle area
Wife is a teacher
Two kids, ages 4 and 7
Drives electric vehicle
Rock climbing hobby
Works at startup

→ Potentially identifiable to anyone motivated to look

Solution:

Vary specifics ("30s" instead of "30")
Omit unnecessary details
Use throwaways for personal questions
Never combine multiple identifiers in one post

Account Strategy: Multiple Accounts

The Three-Account System

1. Main Account: Purpose: General Reddit participation Content: Hobbies, interests, helpful contributions Rules:

No personal information
No controversial topics
Curate carefully
This is your "public face"

2. Professional Account (Optional): Purpose: Industry discussions, networking Content: Professional expertise, career topics Rules:

Can be linked to real identity if desired
Only post what you'd say at a conference
Build professional reputation
Separate from personal life

3. Throwaway Account(s): Purpose: Sensitive topics, personal questions Content: Relationship advice, health questions, private matters Rules:

Create new throwaway for each sensitive topic
Delete after purpose served
Never link to main account
Assume it might be discovered

Account Separation Rules

Never Cross-Reference:

Don't mention your other accounts
Don't engage with same posts across accounts
Don't use similar writing styles if possible
Don't participate in same small subreddits

IP Address Considerations:

Reddit can see if accounts share IP addresses
Not usually an issue unless ban evasion suspected
Consider VPN if paranoid about linking

Behavioral Differences:

Use different subreddits on each account
Vary posting times if possible
Different comment styles
Different upvoting patterns

Technical Privacy Measures

Use a VPN

Why:

Hides your IP address from Reddit
Prevents ISP from seeing Reddit activity
Adds privacy layer
Useful for sensitive topics

Recommended VPNs:

ProtonVPN (privacy-focused)
Mullvad (anonymous payment options)
IVPN (no-logs policy)

Avoid Free VPNs: They typically sell your data.

When to Use:

Always (if very privacy-conscious)
When posting sensitive content
When using throwaway accounts
If discussing controversial topics

Browser Privacy

Use Private/Incognito Mode:

For throwaway accounts
Prevents cookie tracking
Isolates sessions
Cleared after closing

Browser Extensions:

uBlock Origin (ad blocking, tracking protection)
Privacy Badger (tracker blocking)
HTTPS Everywhere (encrypted connections)
Reddit Enhancement Suite (privacy features)

Disable Tracking:

Clear cookies regularly
Use tracking protection
Disable JavaScript selectively
Block third-party cookies

Reddit App vs. Browser

Official Reddit App: ❌ Cons:

More data collection
Invasive permissions
Less privacy control

Mobile Browser: ✅ Pros:

Use old.reddit.com for less tracking
Better privacy control
No app permissions needed

Third-Party Apps (where available): ✅ Better privacy than official app ✅ More user control ✅ Often open-source

Content Management and Auditing

Regular History Reviews

Monthly: Quick scan

Review last 30 days of posts
Delete obvious problems
Check for accidental personal info

Quarterly: Deep audit

Review last 3-6 months thoroughly
Delete borderline content
Update privacy settings
Check for account security issues

Annually: Complete review

Full history audit
Delete anything older than X years
Reassess privacy strategy
Update passwords and security

What to Delete

High Priority:

Personal identifying information
Exact location references
Workplace details
Family/relationship specifics
Financial or medical information
Photos or identifying media

Medium Priority:

Controversial opinions you've changed
Heated arguments or insults
Low-quality content
Posts in problematic subreddits

Consider Keeping:

High-quality helpful contributions
Professional expertise demonstrations
Non-identifying general discussions
Popular posts that reflect well

Using Redeleter for Efficient Management

Features for Privacy:

Bulk deletion by date range
Keyword search across all content
Subreddit filtering
Karma-based filtering (keep high-value posts)

Privacy Workflow:

Connect account securely
Search for identifying keywords
Filter problematic subreddits
Review flagged content
Bulk delete selected items
Keep valuable contributions

Schedule Regular Use:

Set calendar reminders
Make it routine (quarterly)
Track what you've cleaned
Maintain rolling window of content

Behavioral Privacy Practices

Think Before You Post

The 24-Hour Rule: For sensitive or emotional posts:

Write the post
Save as draft (or in notepad)
Wait 24 hours
Re-read with fresh eyes
Edit or decide not to post

The Public Test: Before posting, ask:

Would I say this at a professional conference?
Would I want my employer to see this?
Could this identify me?
Might I regret this in 5 years?

The Archive Assumption: Assume everything you post will:

Be archived immediately
Potentially be discovered
Never fully disappear
Be taken out of context

Subreddit Selection

High-Risk Subreddits: Be extra careful in:

Political discussion subreddits
Controversial topic forums
City/region-specific subs (easy identification)
Workplace or company-specific subs
Highly specific hobby/interest subs (small communities)

Safer Subreddits:

Large general interest communities
Entertainment discussions
Mainstream hobby forums
Question/answer subs (when not too personal)

Engagement Strategy

Lurk First:

Read community rules
Understand culture
Watch what gets removed
Learn acceptable behavior

Engage Thoughtfully:

Add value, don't just comment
Avoid controversial takes unless necessary
Use upvotes/downvotes instead of comments when possible
Don't feed trolls

Know When to Walk Away:

Don't get drawn into arguments
Mute threads getting heated
Block harassers immediately
Report but don't engage with rule-breakers

Handling Privacy Breaches

If You're Doxxed

Immediate Actions:

Document everything (screenshots)
Report to Reddit admins
Report to subreddit mods
Don't engage with doxxer
Consider deleting account

Follow-Up:

Change passwords on all accounts
Enable 2FA if not already active
Review other platforms for exposure
Consider legal action if threats involved

If Someone Finds Your Account

Assessment:

Who found it? (employer, friend, family, stranger)
What content are you concerned about?
Is deletion sufficient or do you need new account?

Responses:

Delete problematic content immediately
Make profile private temporarily
Create new account if necessary
Learn from the incident

Account Compromise

Signs:

Posts you didn't make
Password doesn't work
Login from unknown location
Unexpected account changes

Recovery:

Use Reddit's password reset
Check email for notifications
Revoke all connected apps
Enable 2FA
Review and delete any unauthorized posts
Change passwords on similar accounts

Advanced Privacy Techniques

Writing Style Anonymization

Why It Matters: Linguistic analysis can link accounts through:

Unique phrases or vocabulary
Grammar patterns
Sentence structure
Punctuation habits

How to Vary:

Use different formality levels
Vary sentence length
Change punctuation style
Avoid signature phrases

Reality Check: Only necessary if you're very concerned about sophisticated linking attempts.

Photo Metadata Stripping

EXIF Data Includes:

GPS coordinates
Camera model
Date/time
Sometimes device name

Removal Tools:

ExifTool (command line)
ImageOptim (Mac)
ExifCleaner (cross-platform GUI)
Online tools (less private but convenient)

Always Strip Before Upload: Reddit doesn't remove EXIF data automatically on all platforms.

Cryptocurrency for Privacy

Some users use cryptocurrency to:

Pay for VPNs anonymously
Purchase throwaway email services
Maintain financial privacy

Consider If: You're very privacy-focused and comfortable with crypto.

Privacy Threat Assessment

Low-Risk Users

Profile: Casual Reddit use, general topics, minimal personal details Strategy: Basic privacy settings, annual history review, common sense posting Tools Needed: Redeleter for occasional cleanup

Medium-Risk Users

Profile: Active participation, some personal topics, job-searching Strategy: Multiple accounts, quarterly audits, careful content curation Tools Needed: Redeleter for regular maintenance, VPN consideration

High-Risk Users

Profile: Public figure, controversial topics, professional reputation concerns Strategy: Maximum privacy measures, professional account management, legal considerations Tools Needed: All privacy tools, possible professional reputation management service

Privacy vs. Participation Trade-offs

The Balance

More privacy means: ✅ Better protection ✅ Less anxiety ❌ Less authentic participation ❌ More hassle maintaining

Find Your Balance:

Assess your actual risk level
Don't over-optimize for unlikely threats
Maintain sustainable privacy practices
Allow for authentic community participation

When Perfect Privacy Isn't Necessary

Overthinking:

Most Reddit discussions are harmless
Not everything needs throwaway account
Casual hobbies don't require anonymity
Some personal sharing builds community

Right-Sizing Privacy:

Use main account for safe topics
Throwaway for sensitive topics
Don't let privacy concerns prevent all participation

Conclusion and Action Plan

This Week

✅ Enable 2FA on your account ✅ Configure all privacy settings ✅ Create dedicated Reddit email if needed ✅ Review last month of posts for issues

This Month

✅ Complete full history audit with Redeleter ✅ Delete problematic content ✅ Set up calendar reminders for quarterly reviews ✅ Create throwaway accounts for future sensitive topics

Ongoing

✅ Think before posting ✅ Never share identifying details ✅ Use multiple accounts strategically ✅ Quarterly privacy audits ✅ Stay informed about Reddit changes

Remember

Perfect privacy is impossible once you post
Focus on practical threat reduction
Regular maintenance beats emergency cleanup
Prevention is easier than removal

Take control of your Reddit privacy today. Use Redeleter for efficient content management, follow these best practices, and maintain your digital reputation proactively.

Your privacy matters. Protect it systematically, sustainably, and sensibly.

2023 POSTS (3 posts - April, August, November)

[Continue with remaining 9 posts - I'll add them in the next update to stay within length limits. Should I continue with the 2023-2025 posts?]