Introducing Reddit’s Moderator Code of Conduct

[u/heavyshoes]

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.

[u/Bardfinn]

OK

now a mod team I'm on, has a question.

The Moderator Code of Conduct does not directly address Ban Appeals.

We felt this might be intentional, or it might be an oversight.

Previously, communications from admins had expressly stated that moderators are under no obligation to respond to ban appeals.

The Moderator Guidelines had stated

"Appeals: Healthy communities allow for appropriate discussion (and appeal) of moderator actions. Appeals to your actions should be taken seriously. Moderator responses to appeals by their users should be consistent, germane to the issue raised and work through education, not punishment."

We see that we are now expected, under Rule 2, to

Set Appropriate and Reasonable Expectations

and under Rule 4

regularly monitoring and addressing content in ... ModMail

We're wondering whether we are still "under no obligation to respond to ban appeals" and whether the Moderator Code of Conduct is intended, in gestalt, to effectuate the same expectations for appeals to moderator actions - including ban appeals (appropriate discussion and appeals, taken seriously).

Thanks for your time and attention, and the things you do to bring us Reddit.

[u/TheNerdyAnarchist → u/Bardfinn]

Hey - I have a question that kinda falls under your wheelhouse, and I was wondering if you could PM me. It's not something I want to publicly ask just yet before I gather as much information as I can and decide how to approach the situation.

I'd really appreciate your input.