The Reddit Threshold: Why New Accounts Need 10 Days and 100 Karma (and How to Get There Smoothly)
Ever tried posting in your favorite Reddit community, only to have your submission instantly removed? Or maybe you crafted a thoughtful comment, hit ‘reply’, and… nothing happened? If you’re new to Reddit, chances are you’ve bumped into the platform’s common barrier: “In order to post, your account must be older than 10 days and have 100 positive karma.”
It feels frustrating, right? Like showing up to a party only to be told you need to wait outside for a while. But understanding why this rule exists and how to navigate it effectively is key to becoming a successful Redditor. Let’s break it down.
Why Does Reddit Have This Rule? (It’s Not Just to Annoy You!)
Reddit is a massive ecosystem built on community-driven content and discussion. Millions of users interact daily across countless subreddits. Unfortunately, this scale also attracts bad actors. The “10 days and 100 karma” rule serves as a crucial defense mechanism:
1. Combating Spam: Automated bots and spammers creating new accounts to flood communities with ads, scams, or malicious links would run rampant without this gate. Requiring a waiting period and community validation makes large-scale spam operations much harder and less efficient.
2. Mitigating Trolls and Bad Faith Actors: People looking to cause trouble, harass others, or disrupt communities often rely on disposable, brand-new accounts (“throwaways”). This rule forces a cooling-off period and requires them to engage positively (at least somewhat) before gaining full posting privileges, discouraging impulsive negativity.
3. Protecting Communities: Established subreddits, especially smaller or niche ones, rely on a certain culture and trust. Allowing unrestricted posting from day one makes them vulnerable to brigading (coordinated attacks from outside groups), off-topic floods, and low-effort content that drowns out genuine discussion.
4. Encouraging Observation and Learning: The 10-day period isn’t just a waiting game. It encourages new users to lurk – to read the rules of specific subreddits (which often have additional karma/age requirements!), understand the community norms, and get a feel for the tone and topics before jumping in. This leads to higher-quality contributions later.
5. Building Trust Through Karma: Karma is Reddit’s reputation system. Positive karma (earned from upvotes) signifies that the community finds your contributions valuable, funny, or helpful. Requiring 100 positive karma acts as a basic “trust score.” It means you’ve participated enough to receive some validation from other users, indicating you’re likely not just here to cause problems.
Understanding the Two Requirements:
1. Account Older Than 10 Days: This one is straightforward. Your account needs to have been created at least 10 full days ago. Reddit’s system automatically tracks this. You can’t speed it up. Patience is key. Use this time to explore!
2. 100 Positive Karma: This is where active participation comes in. Karma comes in two main flavors:
Post Karma: Earned when your posts (submissions to subreddits) receive upvotes.
Comment Karma: Earned when your comments receive upvotes.
The rule typically refers to your combined total karma (post + comment) needing to reach 100. Crucially, it’s positive karma. Downvotes reduce your karma. You need a net positive reception to reach that 100 threshold.
How to Earn Your First 100 Karma (The Smart Way):
Don’t panic! 100 karma isn’t a mountain; it’s a small hill, easily climbed with consistent, positive participation. Here’s how to do it effectively and authentically:
Start Commenting (Thoughtfully!): This is often the easiest path for new users. Find posts in subreddits you’re genuinely interested in.
Add Value: Don’t just say “This!” or “Agree.” Share a relevant personal experience, ask a clarifying question, provide a helpful link (if allowed), or offer a different perspective respectfully.
Be Funny (If Genuine): Humor is big on Reddit, but forced jokes fall flat. If you have a witty observation, share it!
Read the Room: Understand the subreddit’s vibe. A serious discussion in r/AskHistorians requires a different tone than a lighthearted thread in r/aww.
Focus on Smaller, Active Communities: Huge default subs (like r/funny or r/pics) get flooded with comments. Your thoughtful remark might get lost. Smaller, niche communities (e.g., r/CasualConversation, r/BeginnerWoodworking, hobby-specific subs) are often more welcoming, and your comments have a better chance of being seen and upvoted. Search for topics you truly care about!
Find Beginner-Friendly Subreddits: Some communities are explicitly welcoming to new users or designed for participation:
r/NewToReddit: Specifically for asking questions and getting help as a new user (great place to start!).
r/AskReddit: Answer interesting questions! Sorting by “New” can help your answers get seen before a thread explodes.
r/CasualConversation: As the name suggests, low-stakes, friendly chatting.
r/NoStupidQuestions: A safe space to ask anything without judgment.
Hobby subs: Passionate communities often appreciate newcomers asking genuine questions or sharing small successes.
Be Helpful and Kind: Redditors appreciate users who contribute positively. Answering someone’s genuine question helpfully, offering support, or simply being polite goes a long way.
Post Wisely (If Possible): Some less restrictive subreddits might allow you to post with lower karma. If you find one relevant to you:
Follow ALL Rules: Read the subreddit’s sidebar/rules meticulously. Ignoring them is the fastest way to get banned or downvoted.
Ensure High Quality & Relevance: Post interesting articles (check if they’ve been posted recently!), ask engaging discussion questions, share unique photos/content (respecting copyright), or make insightful observations.
Use Clear Titles: Tell people exactly what your post is about.
Avoid Karma Farming Pitfalls:
Don’t Beg: Posts or comments saying “Please upvote so I can post elsewhere” are ineffective and often downvoted.
Avoid Low-Effort Memes/Reposts: In most subs, these get ignored or downvoted, especially from new accounts.
Steer Clear of “Free Karma” Subs: Subreddits explicitly offering “free karma” (e.g., r/FreeKarma4U) are often frowned upon by the wider Reddit community and sometimes seen as spammy. Participation there can sometimes even be detrimental. Focus on genuine interaction instead.
Don’t Spam: Posting the same comment or link repeatedly is a surefire way to get banned.
What Happens After You Cross the Threshold?
Once your account hits 10 days and 100+ positive karma, most of Reddit’s automatic posting restrictions will lift. Crucially, this doesn’t mean every subreddit is instantly open:
Subreddit-Specific Rules: Moderators of individual communities can (and often do) set higher karma and age requirements, or other rules (like requiring verified email, specific post flairs, etc.). Always check a subreddit’s rules (“About” section/sidebar) before posting or commenting. r/science or r/AskHistorians, for example, have much stricter rules than the baseline.
Continued Good Standing: Reaching 100 karma doesn’t grant immunity. If you start breaking rules, spamming, or trolling, you can still get downvoted, have posts/comments removed, or get banned from subreddits or even the whole site.
Patience and Participation: Your Reddit Foundation
That initial “In order to post your account must be older than 10 days and have 100 positive karma” message is a rite of passage. It’s Reddit’s way of asking newcomers to take a breath, look around, learn the customs, and demonstrate a willingness to contribute positively before diving into the deep end.
View the 10 days as an opportunity to explore the vastness of Reddit. Use the quest for 100 karma as motivation to engage authentically in communities you find interesting. By focusing on adding value, being respectful, and participating genuinely, you’ll not only unlock the ability to post but also build a solid foundation for a rewarding Reddit experience. The trust you earn through those early upvotes reflects your integration into the community – and that’s the real key to unlocking everything Reddit has to offer. Welcome aboard!
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