Reddit is a popular platform for news sharing, opinion exchange, and general discussion about vast topics. Although it generally works without any issues, occasionally posts may be marked as invalid. In this tutorial, we will break down why that might happen and offer some guidance in resolving the issue.
What is a Reddit Self-Post?
A Reddit self-post is a post that doesn't contain a link to an external website, but instead contains the content of the post in the text box field. These posts may include opinions, questions, anecdotes, stories, or other shareable information. Any links internal to Reddit or in the text box are acceptable, but any external link will render the post as invalid.
What Causes Posts to be Invalid?
Posts may be invalid for a variety of reasons, such as inappropriate content, insufficient posting privileges, incorrect link formatting, or improper wording. The most common reason for posts to be invalid is because the post links to an external domain.
In order to make valid posts, the link must have the required formatting. The link must have the ‘http://’ protocol and the domain name must not have any extra characters in the domain name itself. For example, ‘http://example.com' is an acceptable link, but ‘htt://example.com/3@4!5’ is not an acceptable link.
How do I Resolve an Invalid Post?
The first step to resolving an invalid post is to make sure that the post follows the guidelines mentioned above. If the post was created before the new formatting was enforced, that post may no longer be valid. If that is the case, then you will need to recreate the post with the new formatting.
If the post is still invalid after following the formatting guidelines, you may need to double check to make sure that the content isn’t inappropriate and doesn’t violate any rules established by Reddit. If the post is still invalid, make sure to highlight the part of the post that Reddit has determined to be in violation. It may take a few attempts to make sure that the post is compliant with Reddit’s policies.
Once the post is compliant, you may submit an appeal to Reddit. It typically takes a few days for Reddit to review the appeal and respond. It may result in a denial of the post or, more likely, approval and re-validation of the post.
FAQ
What is a Reddit Self-Post?
A Reddit self-post is a post that is written inside the text box field of Reddit. It contains the content of the post and any internal Reddit links, but external websites are prohibited.
What Causes Posts to be Invalid?
Posts may become invalid because of inappropriate content, insufficient posting privileges, incorrect link formatting, or improper wording. The most common reason is due to external links, which must be formatted correctly.
How do I Resolve an Invalid Post?
To resolve an invalid post, first check the formatting of the external link and make sure it follows the standards set by Reddit. You may then need to double check the content to ensure it doesn’t violate any of Reddit’s guidelines. Once the post is compliant, submit an appeal to Reddit and wait for their response.
Can I Re-edit the Post if the Link Changed?
Yes, if the post was created with the old formatting and was rendered invalid, you'll need to recreate the post and include the new link.
Does Reddit Take Long to Respond to Appeals?
It typically takes a few days for Reddit to respond to appeals.
How do You Know if the Post Content is Inappropriate?
All posts are subject to Reddit's Terms of Service and guidelines. You can view Reddit's regulations here.
Are Links with Shortened URLs Acceptable?
No, Reddit does not allow links with shortened URLs within self-posts. The link must be a full URL that includes the ‘http://’ protocol.