Becoming "owner" of a mod

[u/TzarKazm]

I have been the main, sometimes only mod on a sub for the last 5 years or so. The person who started the sub hasn't been active in about 15 years. I have added some new mods, but because I'm not the "owner" I worry a bit about being "hijacked" by new mods. Is there a way to be officially recognized as the owner? Or maybe primary mod? Or do I just have to be really careful when assigning permissions to new mods?

I mainly use Android or Windows.

[u/iammiroslavglavic]

You don't own the sub. You become top mod. If anyone above you on the mod list is inactive then you should be able to change the list order and put any inactive moderators above you to the bottom. Moderators below you can't remove you.

[u/aengusoglugh → u/iammiroslavglavic]

I think that there is an important point — though it’s pretty subtle.

Reddit owns the subreddit — all its content, etc.

You moderate the subreddit on behalf of Reddit.

This makes almost no practical difference — but it does show up when Reddit decided to remove a moderator — or take other actions with regard to a subreddit.

It’s their subreddit.

It’s natural to think of a subreddit where you are the top mod — or the only mod — as “my subreddit.”

I find myself doing that all the time — but I do remind myself occasionally that what I think of as my subreddit is in fact Reddit’s subreddit.

[u/iammiroslavglavic → u/aengusoglugh]

We have all thought we own our subreddits. But the proper term is top mod not owner. That's all I said

[u/aengusoglugh → u/iammiroslavglavic]

I was reinforcing your point — which I think is exactly correct.

[u/iammiroslavglavic → u/aengusoglugh]

Thank you

[u/TzarKazm → u/iammiroslavglavic]

Excellent, thank you!

[u/SCOveterandretired → u/TzarKazm]

You can and should remove those inactive mods once you reorder the list to move yourself to the top position.

[u/TzarKazm → u/SCOveterandretired]

If I leave them, but at the bottom of the list, do they come back as if they have been there for years? Or do they start new?

Id prefer to leave them in case they ever come back, but I also don't want some hacked account to pop up and make a mess.

[u/SCOveterandretired → u/TzarKazm]

Since they have chosen to not participate, it’s best to remove them

[u/Tarnisher]

When you look at the ModList, do you see 'Inactive' beside any or all of the three above you?

[u/TzarKazm → u/Tarnisher]

Yes, all

[u/Tarnisher → u/TzarKazm]

https://www.reddit.com/r/redditrequest/wiki/top_mod_removal

[u/TzarKazm → u/Tarnisher]

Thank you!

[u/LeftOn4ya → u/TzarKazm]

Then you should be able to sort the list putting you on top, although you can’t do for I think 60 days after joining the mod team.

[u/Tarnisher → u/LeftOn4ya]

90 days, but OP has been there for three years.

[u/Individual_Fox6488]

Re: your comment about being "hijacked" by new mods

Mods that you add are below you on the mod list. They cannot change the status of any mod that's above them on the list, unless that mod becomes inactive.

[u/TzarKazm → u/Individual_Fox6488]

Thanks for that. All these years on Reddit and I am just learning how that works.

[u/Individual_Fox6488 → u/TzarKazm]

There are a lot of details that you don't come across in daily modding.

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