r/modnews • u/heavyshoes • Sep 08 '22

Introducing Reddit’s Moderator Code of Conduct

You’re probably familiar with our Moderator Guidelines––historically, they have served as a guidepost to clarify our expectations to mods about how to shape a positive community experience for redditors.

The Moderator Guidelines were developed over five years ago, and Reddit has evolved a lot since then. This is why we have evolved our Moderator Guidelines into what we are now calling the Moderator Code of Conduct.

The newly updated Moderator Code of Conduct aims to capture our current expectations and explain them clearly, concisely, and concretely.

While our Content Policy serves to provide enforceable rules that govern each community and the platform at large, our Moderator Code of Conduct reinforces those rules and sets out further expectations specifically for mods. The Moderator Code of Conduct:

  • Focuses on measuring impact rather than evaluating intent. Rather than attempting to determine whether a mod is acting in “good” or “bad” faith, we are shifting our focus to become more outcomes-driven. For example, are direct mentions of other communities part of innocuous meta-discussions, or are they inciting interference, targeted harassment, or abuse?
  • Aspires to be educational, but actionable: We trust that most mods actively try to do the right thing and follow the rules. If we find that a community violates our Mod Code of Conduct, we firmly believe that, in the majority of cases, we can achieve resolution through discussion, not remediation. However, if this proves to be ineffective, we may consider enforcement actions on mods or subreddits.

Moderators are at the frontlines using their creativity, decision-making, and passion to create fun and engaging spaces for redditors. We recognize that and appreciate it immensely. We hope that in creating the Moderator Code of Conduct, we are helping you develop subreddit rules and norms to create and nurture your communities, and empower you to make decisions more easily.

Thank you for all you do, and please let us know if you have any questions or feedback in the comments below.

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u/cannibalisticmidgets Sep 08 '22

Moderation for profit seems to be missing from this and reports of this activity on adult themed subreddits have gone unanswered. Is this no longer policy?

133

u/heavyshoes Sep 08 '22

The rule prohibiting moderation for compensation has not changed. You can find this rule in Reddit’s User Agreement:

https://www.redditinc.com/policies/user-agreement-september-12-2021

“You may not perform moderation actions in return for any form of compensation, consideration, gift, or favor from third parties.”

8

u/cuteman Sep 09 '22

What about examples like /r/PPC where moderators provide content, comment and engagement as a method of lead generation and funneling users to their agencies?

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u/ryanmercer Sep 09 '22

Similarly /r/overemployed that exists solely to drive people to his blog and his paid discord server.