David Bridges
Reddit is one of the most popular forums on the internet.
And for good reason—you can find an active community on absolutely any topic.
Everything from r/cowgifs to r/financialindependence.
However, you’re likely to run into a common problem.
Some subreddits are private, which means that you won’t be able to access them immediately.
This can be particularly frustrating if you’re excited to join.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to join a private subreddit on Reddit, what is it about, and why are some communities not set to public.
What is a private subreddit?
A private subreddit is a closed group on Reddit that cannot be accessed by the public.
You will require a moderator to accept your request before you can access the content.
This is usually the case if the content is “not safe for work” or NSFW, political, highly speculative, or sensitive.
Otherwise, the community only caters to a specific group of people.
Why are some subreddits private?
There are many reasons a subreddit/community can be private.
Some of the most common ones include:
- The content is sensitive and therefore not appropriate for the public to see.
- The subreddit has been covered in the media and is experiencing a huge influx of users. This is common with the making money subreddits such as r/wallstreetbets and r/antiwork.
- The quality of the subreddit is declining and the moderators need to manage it.
A subreddit may also be private to deter trolls and spam.
If a subreddit is invite-only, heavy moderation may not be required.
How to join a private subreddit
To join a private subreddit, you need to navigate to it and select “Message Mods”.
After you’ve selected “Message Mods”, you need to explain why you want to join the subreddit and why you’re a good fit for it.
Step 1: Go to Reddit.com and signup or login
Step 2: Type in the name of the subreddit in the search bar and click the correct result
Step 3: Click on “Message Mods”
Note: This may look different for various subreddits since Reddit is always changing and moderators have the freedom to customize this page.
Step 4: Enter the Subreddit name in the “to” field
Step 5: Craft the subject line and message
There’s no perfect approach to this.
However, I would make the subject line “Can I please access r/subredditname”.
When it comes to the message a basic two-sentence message that shows you’re a real person interested in adding value and following the rules is key.
For example, if you’re trying to access a business subreddit you might have the following message.
- To: r/sidehustles
- Subject: Can I please join the side hustle community?
- Message: Hey! I’m interested in learning more about side hustles on Reddit. I’ll be sure to read the wiki and rules before engaging. Thanks!
After you’ve sent the message, you need to wait for the moderator’s response.
If you’re successful, you’ll be added to the subreddit.
In summary
It’s hard to know which Subreddits are private since they always change.
When a subreddit becomes private there’s usually a good reason and it could take some time to get approved.
The best thing to do is submit a friendly request to the moderators.
Make sure to personalize your message and explain why you’re a good fit to increase your chances of getting accepted.
Further reading
Top 25 Most Popular Subreddits on Reddit
