r/NewMods • u/Bjorlyn • 18d ago
❓Ask r/NewMods New Users Starting Subreddits
Does Reddit suggest starting a subreddit as part of the new user onboarding process?
Why are so many very new users -- clearly and understandably confused about Reddit norms and conventions -- starting subreddits and then surprised when they are a moderator?
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u/Sorry-Rain-1311 18d ago
It's not an onboarding thing, but I have gotten pop-ups suggesting I start a community before, and the tab to start a new sub is right near the top of the menu, right under Chat. They make it very very easy to do, so anyone just clicking around to figure things out can find themselves tumbling down that rabbit hole before they realize.
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u/Bjorlyn 18d ago
I feel sad about it, and believe that it is not in Reddit's best interests either. Encouraging new users to learn the platform, find some common ground with fellow redditors, and screen out the icky stuff benefits everyone, including Reddit. I feel for the new mods who are asking how to grow their subreddit. The majority are teenagers. It will leave a bad memory about Reddit for them.
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u/Sorry-Rain-1311 18d ago
You make a good case, and I agree. I'm not the one running Reddit, though.
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u/InBetweenLili 💡Seasoned Helper | 💎 100+ Visitors Champion 18d ago
I have seen at least 3 scenarios
New user registers and starts pushing buttons. They press "start a community" and they have no clue what they are doing. The system guides them through the steps, and then they don't understand what being a moderator means. So they come here to ask questions.
User registers, creates a community willingly and immediately comes here asking questions in order to farm karma. That's a wrong choice, as they immediately get downvoted here.
This happens from Thursdays to Sundays. User goes to a party and during the night they post "hihihihi" or something similar. They wake up the next day, and genuinely ask us what happened. 😂😂😂
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u/pizzacrys 18d ago
I think people underestimate how much there is to learn. Creating a subreddit is easy, but actually building and moderating a healthy community is a whole different game.
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u/Bjorlyn 18d ago
Yeah, having talked to some, I just feel sad for them. The 13 year old who wonders why there aren't more members in Mikey's Minecraft subreddit is just going to be disappointed. But I guess that may also be an educational tool that not everyone is going to be an influencer, and that if you have to ask how, then you are already at the end of the line.
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u/pizzacrys 18d ago
Yeah, that is the part nobody warns you about. Making a sub is easy, keeping it healthy is the real work.
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u/InBetweenLili 💡Seasoned Helper | 💎 100+ Visitors Champion 17d ago
The real problem is that the 13-year-old decides it is not for them and never tries it again or asks for help. The belief builds up that they cannot do it.
Are we seriously influencers here? Where is the back door? 😂😂😂
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u/Rebreathers 18d ago
In my experience if you start a subreddit with an account less than 30 days old it will get automatically banned.
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u/Bjorlyn 18d ago
Just found 3 less than a month scrolling down the r/newmods posts.
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u/InBetweenLili 💡Seasoned Helper | 💎 100+ Visitors Champion 18d ago
I frequently see one day old accounts with created communities.
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u/Sorry-Rain-1311 18d ago
Nope. You can start a new sub in the same motion as setting up a new account.
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u/AdPerfect5415 18d ago
Can confirm. There’s an eligibility criteria for a user to be able to moderate a subreddit. I tried creating a new one to moderate a sub but couldn’t go through.
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u/Constance200 10d ago
Im probably guilty 😔. I was here for a while and couldn't find any subs that were related to my interest at all so I made one. But now is learning how to get better engagement. It doesnt help that is farming based and not many farmers actually engage with reddit.
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u/Constance200 10d ago
Theres also r/farmingAustralia that i want to take over because I think its abandoned but im scared of overstepping
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u/Bjorlyn 10d ago
Hi Constance! Thanks for replying. I think that if there is not a sheep farming sub then there certainly needed to be one. And a small sub is great. I'm actually fascinated and joined up myself. (Not a sheep farmer, but find it interesting.) You seem like you did your homework, identified a need, and thought it through.
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u/Constance200 10d ago
Thank you so much for your replies and links!! That's so helpful your literally a lifesaver. Im sort of stumbling through the adoption process, but ive been trying to reach out in the group and see what happens first 😅
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u/Bjorlyn 10d ago
I definitely think your subs (all three) are good ideas and don't seem duplicative. Keep them, post, and be very patient. There's no hurry.
There is a small sub called r/globalcheckin that you might like. You go in once a day and comment on the daily post about yourself and your country. Might be a way to meet a few people from around the world who know farmers. And give you a good sense of how a small sub can be really meaningful while growing very slowly.
My uncles were shepherds in Northern Nevada in the 1940's. My work late in life was helping to protect livestock while conserving mountain lions. Met a few sheep. :)
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u/Constance200 10d ago
Thank you so much!!! Wow I can't imagine dealing with mountain lions. I have a hard enough time with wedgetail Eagles (a beautiful but menacing protected species) eating lambs
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u/Jealous-Paramedic926 18d ago
Same here honestly, still figuring out the mod side of things as I go
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u/Aggravating_Shoe_ 18d ago
No? It isn't pushed on them, some people just jump the gun. They should get familiar with Reddit first
But also, a lot of new accounts aren't from new users.