When you open a profile on Reddit, you can easily view a user’s posts and comments. However, Reddit has recently introduced a feature aimed at enhancing privacy for users who may want to keep certain activities on their profiles private.

This new feature allows individuals to curate their Reddit profiles more effectively, giving them greater control over what information is shared. According to Reddit, the update enables users to adjust profile settings through a new option called “Content and activity.”

This allows users to manage what appears on their profile on a subreddit-specific basis. Essentially, this means that users can engage in various communities without revealing their complete post and comment history.

With these settings, Reddit users can choose to keep their comments and posts visible to everyone, which is the default option. They can also opt to hide all public posts and comments if they prefer a more private experience.

Furthermore, users have the flexibility to selectively display only posts and comments from chosen communities, making it easier to keep certain affiliations, such as those with NSFW communities, discreet. However, it’s important to note that moderators can still access a user’s entire profile when necessary.

They have full access to a user’s public post and comment history for 28 days, regardless of the user’s privacy settings. Additionally, the introduction of these features may reduce the reliance on “throwaway accounts,” which are often used to post anonymously.

By enabling users to hide specific posts or comments, Reddit aims to diminish the need for these temporary accounts. While this could enhance user engagement and improve data collection post-IPO, concerns remain.

As some users have pointed out, reduced transparency may allow bad actors to manipulate information without immediate scrutiny, which could negatively impact the community.