Steps to Follow for Deleting Your Reddit Account Permanently – 2021

If you’re one of Reddit’s millions of monthly active users, read on to learn more about Reddit account privacy and security concerns and how to delete your account if you think it’s best to permanently.
Reddit is no stranger to controversy. In 2016, soon after the President elections (Trump), Steve Huffman, CEO of Reddit, was spotted on a popular pro-Trump subreddit. The Donald featured many of the most popular (and critical) comments about Huffman himself in response to a Hilary Clinton subdirectory’s closure.

Unbeknownst to the editors, Huffman could edit any part of the site, adding code that would automatically replace his username with his reviewer’s username and direct the insult against them. The editors were quick to notice and were very unhappy that their data could be tampered with.

Huffman no longer has that power, but this incident exposed the excessive breadth of technology leaders at Reddit and possibly beyond.
Many Reddit’s vulnerabilities have been exposed in recent years, including a celebrity nude photo hack, rebellious content moderators, and the removal of a “Warrant Canary” in 2016, suggesting they were hacked. They ask to hand over user data to a government agency.
There was an incident in 2018 where Reddit silently (almost secretly) re-enabled user tracking and shared that data with third parties.
On Reddit, tracking is enabled by default for advertising and personalization purposes that users must manually disable. However, unless users are make to aware of this standard tracking, they are unlikely to sign out.

Deactivate or Delete: What You Need To Know

Reddit does not allow its users to deactivate their accounts temporarily. Once you’ve deleted your Reddit account, it’s gone forever, along with all of your favorite links. If you do not delete your comments one by one before deactivating your accounts, they will still appear, but the author of the words will appear as [deleted].
If you change your mind in the future, you won’t be able to log into Reddit with the same username as before or anyone else. Additionally, there is currently no automated functionality to upload your Reddit data. You must contact the company to request the upload of your user data.

Step By Step Guide: How To Delete Your Reddit Account

When you’ve decide that Reddit is no longer for you, follow these easy steps to delete your account permanently.
1. Log in to your Reddit account.
2. Click on your user’s icon and select “User Settings” from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select “Deactivate Account.”
4. Re-enter your login information and, if necessary, provide the reason for deleting your Reddit account. Make sure that deactivated accounts cannot be restored and click Deactivate.
5. You will be asked if you are sure this action cannot be undone. Click on “Deactivate.”

Also Read: Advantages Of Studying Online

Other ways to keep your data private online

In recent years there have been scandals regarding the privacy protocols and guidelines of many social media platforms. For example, there was the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018 that hit Facebook, in which the data of 87 million users was inappropriately share.
There is so much to learn about yourself on your social media accounts. There have been numerous instances where burglars have struck homes that they know are empty, thanks to social media’s vacation ads.

Many social media users give their exact location when posting via Geotagged without knowing it. It could reveal your address. If your date of birth is on your profile, fraudsters may have enough information to commit identity fraud. The more information there is online about you, the greater the risk.

However, social media is helpful in several ways – not just for keeping in touch with friends and family, but also for business purposes. So, if you are unwilling or unable to give up social media, there are a few steps you can take to keep it safe.
Read and research the privacy policies of the social media websites you subscribe to, and be careful. Those who regularly share your information with third parties.

Also, monitor your privacy settings. If you haven’t already, limit the number of people who can see what you send to your trusted family and friends. Also, do not allow any social media platform to publish or access your location. Check your privacy settings regularly to make sure nothing has changed without your notice.

Further reading

If you want to be safe online, it pays to invest in a VPN service. It protects your data from hackers, ensures anonymity, and bypasses Geoblocking software. Before you commit, check out our guide to the best VPNs with free trials.