Q: Is Reddit actually reading my private messages? A: Yes. Admins can read them. Also, if you chat via Reddit Chat (not old DMs), those are not E2E encrypted. Use Signal or Matrix for sensitive convos.
Q: Should I delete my Reddit account? A: That is a personal threat model question.
Q: What about Mods? Can Mods see my IP? A: No. Only Reddit Admins can see IPs. Mods can only see your public history and the email you signed up with (if you made it public).
Q: Is Reddit Gold private? A: No. Giving gold reveals your payment method to Reddit. If you need to anonymously support a user, give them Monero (XMR) via a private wallet instead. reddit privacy megathread
According to r/degoogle and r/privacy, these are the non-negotiable tools before you even log in.
Official app is the worst for privacy. Alternatives:
| App | Platform | Tracking level | |------|----------|----------------| | RedReader (open source) | Android | Minimal – no trackers | | Infinity for Reddit (open source) | Android | Low | | Slide (open source) | Android / iOS | Low | | Apollo (deprecated but still works via sideload on iOS) | iOS | None (discontinued) | | Old Reddit + browser extensions | Web | Very low | Q: Is Reddit actually reading my private messages
Note: Many 3rd-party apps now require a paid API key – RedReader has a non-commercial exemption.
Your operating system and browser are your primary points of contact with the internet.
By default, Reddit logs:
Reddit also shares data with third-party advertisers and analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics, Amazon Web Services).
Go to old.reddit.com in your browser, then "Add to Home Screen." This creates a sandboxed app that is far more private than the native app.
Install these (Firefox/Chromium):
Custom uBlock filter to add:
||reddit.com/log/api/event – blocks internal analytics pings.
Your data is likely already for sale on "People Search" sites (Whitepages, Spokeo, etc.).
