So You Can’t Post? Decoding Reddit’s “10 Days & 100 Karma” Rule
You’ve found a fantastic Reddit community. You’re excited, you have something valuable to share or a burning question to ask. You click “Create Post,” type your message, hit submit… and bam. A frustrating message pops up:
> “In order to post your account must be older than 10 days and have 100 positive karma.”
Suddenly, your enthusiasm hits a brick wall. What does this mean? Why is it happening? And, most importantly, how do you get past it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This common hurdle is actually Reddit’s way of trying to protect its communities. Let’s break it down.
Why Does This Rule Exist? The Logic Behind the Gate
Imagine Reddit as a massive collection of neighborhood gatherings (subreddits). Some are bustling city centers (like r/funny or r/AskReddit), others are cozy niche groups. Like any neighborhood, keeping things safe and spam-free is crucial. That’s where the “10 days & 100 karma” rule (or variations of it) comes in. It primarily serves two purposes:
1. Combating Spam & Bots: Spammers create countless fake accounts to flood subreddits with malicious links, scams, or low-quality promotions. Requiring accounts to be both a minimum age (10 days) and have earned some positive karma (100 points) makes it significantly harder and more time-consuming for spammers to operate effectively. A brand-new spam account can’t immediately start blasting posts.
2. Promoting Quality & Community Fit: New users are encouraged to spend time reading and participating in discussions before creating their own posts. This helps them understand a subreddit’s specific rules, culture, and expectations. Earning karma usually means contributing something others found valuable (a helpful comment, an interesting link), suggesting the user understands the platform’s norms. It aims to prevent low-effort, off-topic, or rule-breaking posts from brand-new accounts who haven’t yet grasped how the community works.
Karma Demystified: What It Is and How to Earn It (The Right Way!)
Karma is Reddit’s reputation system. Think of it as a rough indicator of how much your contributions have been appreciated by other users.
How it Works: When you post a comment or submission (post), other users can upvote (▲) or downvote (▼) it. Upvotes generally add a small amount to your karma, downvotes subtract a small amount. The exact calculation isn’t public and isn’t 1:1 (e.g., 100 upvotes don’t equal exactly 100 karma), but it reflects overall positive reception.
“Positive Karma”: This specifically refers to your overall comment karma plus your post karma. Many subreddits look at your combined total when checking the “100 positive karma” requirement.
Earning Karma Ethically (No Shortcuts!):
Be Helpful & Add Value: Find discussions where you have genuine knowledge or insight and leave thoughtful comments. Answer questions clearly in relevant subreddits (like r/NoStupidQuestions or topic-specific ones).
Share Interesting Content: Find articles, videos, or images that truly fit a subreddit’s theme and share them (remembering to credit sources!). Original content (like your own artwork or a project) is often highly valued.
Engage Positively: Be respectful, follow Reddiquette (Reddit’s informal rules of conduct), and participate in discussions without resorting to insults or trolling.
Start Smaller: Target smaller, niche subreddits related to your interests. These often have less strict karma requirements (or none at all) and are great places to build your reputation through genuine interaction. Contributing meaningfully here is the best path to gaining the karma needed for larger subs.
Avoid Karma Farming: Resist the urge to post low-effort memes, beg for upvotes, or participate in “karma farm” subreddits. Moderators can spot this, it often violates subreddit rules, and Reddit itself may penalize accounts engaging in vote manipulation. It’s counterproductive and risks getting your account suspended.
“My Account is Older Than 10 Days, But I Still Can’t Post!” – Troubleshooting
Sometimes, even if your account passes the age and karma thresholds, you might still be blocked. Here’s why:
1. Subreddit-Specific Rules: The “10 days & 100 karma” is a common minimum, but individual subreddits can set stricter rules. A large, popular subreddit might require 30 days and 500 karma. A specialized, high-quality subreddit might require even more. Always check the specific subreddit’s rules in their sidebar or “About” section. Look for terms like “Minimum Karma,” “Account Age Requirement,” or “Posting Restrictions.”
2. Shadowban or Suspension: If your account has been shadowbanned (where your posts/comments are automatically hidden without notification) or fully suspended by Reddit Admins (usually for breaking site-wide rules), you won’t be able to post anywhere. Check if you can see your profile when logged out. If not, contact Reddit Admins.
3. Moderator Removal: Your post might have been automatically removed by a bot due to keywords or links, or manually removed by a moderator for violating a specific rule besides the karma/age requirement (e.g., wrong format, off-topic). You often won’t get a notification for this unless the mods choose to message you.
4. The Karma Glitch (Rare): Occasionally, there might be a brief delay in karma updating across Reddit’s systems. Logging out and back in, or simply waiting a little while, usually resolves this.
Patience is Key: Your Path to Full Participation
Hitting the karma/age barrier can feel discouraging, especially when you’re eager to contribute. But view this period as an opportunity, not just an obstacle.
Lurk and Learn: Read posts and comments. See what kind of content thrives in the subreddits you want to join. Understand the unspoken rules and community vibe.
Build Gradually: Focus on smaller communities first. Your authentic contributions there will naturally build your karma over the 10+ days.
Quality Over Speed: Rushing to get karma often leads to low-quality posts that get downvoted or ignored. Taking the time to offer genuine value is a much more sustainable and rewarding strategy.
Respect the System: Remember, these rules exist because moderators are volunteers fighting a constant battle against spam and disruption. The requirements help them maintain better communities for everyone.
In Conclusion: The Gatekeeper with Good Intentions
That “In order to post your account must be older than 10 days and have 100 positive karma” message is Reddit’s imperfect but necessary immune system. While frustrating in the moment, it protects communities from being overrun, encourages new users to learn the ropes, and ultimately fosters higher-quality discussions. By understanding why the rule exists and focusing on genuine, positive participation in smaller communities first, you’ll earn your posting privileges organically and become a valued member of the Reddit neighborhoods you care about. The time spent engaging and learning will make your future posts all the more impactful. Happy (future) posting!
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