What Parents Need to Know
Reddit (Rated 17+, Chat, Discussion Board)
Reddit is rapidly becoming a social media platform teens and young adults are using to discuss important topics with like-minded individuals. For young people, it is a primary source of news, information, and entertainment; most parents have never heard of it. The concept is simple: Reddit users post whatever they want (including images and videos) in message boards, called subreddits, and other users comment and up or downvote the post. The most popular stories or posts become more visible and generate more discussion. If a post generates enough debate, it can be viewed on Reddit’s homepage, known as the main subreddit. A subreddit is preceded by the URL character “r/.” For example, “r/planes” would be a subreddit on the general topic of planes. Similarly, a subreddit entitled “r/stocks” would be about the stock market. Do you want to discuss or find information on literally any topic? You will likely find a subreddit; if you don’t, you can start your own subreddit. Reddit is a website and a mobile app available for all mobile devices. Anyone can browse Reddit and its subreddits, but you must be a registered user to post, comment, up/downvote, or start a new subreddit.
How is Reddit Accessed?
Reddit is a website and a mobile app available for all mobile devices. Anyone can browse Reddit and its subreddits, but you must be a registered user to post, comment, up/downvote, or start a new subreddit.
Potential Problems
Stranger Interaction
Reddit’s mobile app has a direct chat feature and chat rooms. There is no way to know who your teens are talking to on Reddit. Redditors rarely post under their given name, and there is no identity verification (unless you’re hosting an AMA – Ask Me Anything). That means it can be a dangerous place for young people and a nightmare for parents, mainly since Redditors often do in-person meet-ups.
Porn and Other Inappropriate Content
Porn and other forms of inappropriate content can readily be found on Reddit. Anything goes on Reddit, provided it is not illegal material like child pornography. Many subreddits are tagged with NSFW. This acronym stands for “Not Safe For Work.” Reddit’s content policy guidelines for NSFW include: “Content that contains nudity, pornography, or profanity, which a reasonable viewer may not want to be seen accessing in a public or formal setting such as in a workplace should be tagged as NSFW. This tag can be applied to individual content pieces or entire communities.”
Parental Controls
Reddit does not have traditional parental controls. NSFW search results and the ability to view NSFW subreddits can be turned off in the account settings. The only problem is that the blocked user can quickly get around this parental control. If your teen wants to see NSFW content, all they have to do is go into settings and uncheck that parental control or create a new account the parent doesn’t know about.
Recommendations
Reddit’s app age rating in the App Store is 17+. Based on the presence of pornography and the ability to chat with strangers, I would recommend 18+ for this app.
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