Reddit is a social media site that has been around since 2005. The platform is popular because of its communities, called subreddits, where people can talk about everything ranging from memes to the elections. There is a subreddit for almost everything.
If you are looking to leave Reddit for whatever reason, this article provides a step-by-step guide on how to delete your Reddit account permanently.
Things to Know About Shutting Down Your Reddit Account
As a Redditor, you might want to delete your Reddit account permanently if you no longer want your posted content online.
What to know about account deletion:
- You will not be able to recover the account again.
- You will not be able to open a new account with the same username you used before.
- If you did not delete your comments before deleting your account, your comments can still be viewed. The only difference is they would be shown as posted by ‘[deleted]’ instead of your username.
- You also would not be able to easily download your data like with other social media sites like Facebook, and Twitter. You’ll have to contact Reddit and request that they send your data to you.
- You cannot delete your account from the Reddit app. You have to log in using a web browser.
How to Delete Your Reddit Account
With all of that in mind, here are the steps you should take to delete your Reddit account permanently.
- Open reddit.com on your browser and log in to your account. The button to log in can be found at the top right corner of your screen. Skip this step if you’re already logged in.
- Click on the user icon at the top right corner. The user icon may be customized or not. Once you click on it, a drop-down menu titled ‘My Stuff’ appears.
- Click on ‘User Settings’ under ‘My Stuff.’
- Scroll down and click ‘Deactivate’, at the bottom of the page.
- If you have not created a password for your Reddit account, you’ll be directed to do so. An email will be sent to you with a link to create your password. Once you’ve done that, or if you already have a password, you’ll be asked to fill in your username and password.
- Check the box that says you understand that deactivated accounts cannot be recovered, then click ‘Deactivate.’
- Another box will pop up, asking if you’re sure that you want to delete your Reddit account. It would state that the action cannot be undone. If you’re completely certain, click ‘Deactivate.’
- Your Reddit account is now permanently deleted.
To be sure your account is gone, try logging in using your username and password. It should display an error message.
It’s often advised to always read the privacy policies of social media sites you are signed up to and constantly monitor your privacy settings. Alternatively, you can use privacy tools to remain discreet and still enjoy the benefits of these social media communities like Reddit.
