Today we published our , which shares data and insights about our content moderation and legal requests from July through December 2023.
Reddit’s biannual Transparency Reports provide insights and metrics about content that was removed from Reddit – including content proactively removed as a result of automated tooling, accounts that were suspended, and legal requests we received from governments, law enforcement agencies, and third parties from around the world to remove content or disclose user data.
Some key highlights include:
Content Creation & Removals:
Between July and December 2023, redditors shared over 4.4 billion pieces of content, bringing the total content on Reddit (posts, comments, private messages and chats) in 2023 to over 8.8 billion. (+6% YoY). The vast majority of content (~96%) was not found to violate our or individual community rules.
Of the ~4% of removed content, about half was removed by admins and half by moderators. (Note that moderator removals include removals due to their individual community rules, and so are not necessarily indicative of content being unsafe, whereas admin removalsonlyinclude violations of our Content Policy).
Over 72% of moderator actions were taken with Automod, a customizable tool provided by Reddit that mods can use to take automated moderation actions. We have enhanced the safety tools available for mods and expanded Automod in the past year. You can see more about that .
The majority of admin removals were for spam (67.7%), which is consistent with past reports.
As Reddit's tools and enforcement capabilities keep evolving, we continue to see a trend of admins gradually taking on more content moderation actions from moderators, leaving moderators more room to focus on their individual community rules.
We saw a ~44% increase in the proportion of non-spam, rule-violating content removed by admins, as opposed to mods (admins remove the majority of spam on the platform using scaled backend tooling, so excluding it is a good way of understanding other Content Policy violations).
New “Communities” Section
We’ve added a new “Communities” section to the report to highlight subreddit-level actions as well as admin enforcement of Reddit’s .
Global Legal Requests
We continue to process large volumes of global legal requests from around the world. Interestingly, we’ve seen overall decreases in global government and law enforcement legal requests to remove content or disclose account information compared to the first half of 2023.
We routinely push back on overbroad or otherwise objectionable requests for account information, and fight to ensure users are notified of requests.
In one notable U.S. request for user information, we were served with a sealed search warrant from the LAPD seeking records for an account allegedly involved in the of an LA City Council meeting recording that resulted in the resignation of prominent, local political leaders. We fought to notify the account holder about the warrant, and while we didn’t prevail initially, we persisted and were eventually able to get the warrant and proceedings unsealed and provide notice to the redditor.
You can read more insights in the full document: . You can also see all of our past reports and more information on our policies and procedures in our .
Please let us know in the comments section if you have any questions or are interested in learning more about other data or insights.
It’s that time of year again where we and share with you all the awesome things that happened on Reddit over the last year.
For those of you who are new to Reddit, Reddit Recap is our yearly experience that enables you to view a compilation of data - sometimes measured in bananas - about your activity on the platform over the past year.
How to Recap
In order to access the user Recap experience you must be logged in on desktop or our mobile apps.
To check it out, tap or click on the banana icon at the top right of the screen on iOS and Android, or near the search bar on Desktop. Don't see the banana? Try updating the Reddit app. You can also get to Recap by tapping on your avatar icon or the community drawer at the top left of your homefeed (the three lines), via your inbox, or through the banner at the top of the home feed.
This year we’ve revamped the experience by bringing a new Recap to the forefront: Community Recaps. Community Recaps are data driven information nuggets about many of your favorite communities on Reddit. They can be accessed by simply tapping the Recap banana banner in the header of participating communities. Additionally, in the Reddit app you can view a list of participating communities you've joined (plus trending ones) by tapping the banana icon at the top of your Home feed.
Skill Cards
At the end of the user Recap you’ll get your very own Reddit ability card that shows your top three communities, along with a skill power. Based on the you earned throughout the year, the rarity of the card and skill will be more powerful… Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. You’ll also be able to share this card while hiding your username and/or avatar creation if you wish.
We hope you enjoy both the user and community Recap experiences this year and we can’t wait to see you all next year to do this again!
Welcome to Reddit Recap 2023—a time capsule of the past year's most vibrant exchanges, , and utterly shared and discussed on Reddit. From cheering on a soccer team from , seeking judgment, obsessing over , or dissecting the allure of a —in 2023, Reddit was where the internet's heart truly beat.
I hope you strapped in for the ride (because, let's face it, 2023 was a rollercoaster)
2023 Was the Year of the…
According to the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, 2023 was the Year of the Rabbit. According to redditors, it might have also been the year of the... . These tiny insect charmers became the internet's darling distraction, complete with their own to celebrate their tiny-legged contributions to the world. Putting the creepy in crawly, we can’t forget the bed bugs that have taken Europe by storm, flipping the narrative from cute to . For anyone who’s stumbled across a six-legged critter and pondered its pedigree, is the community for demystifying any insect encounter. But are Shrimps bugs? This seems to think so.
We Saw Movement Within Our Most-Viewed Communities Leaderboard
(AITA) continued to entertain, maintaining the crown as the #1 most-viewed community for the third year in a row. Here, redditors share real-life situations and get a crowd-sourced take on whether they were in the right (NTA), in the wrong (YTA), or if everyone messed up (ESH). Like whether this redditor was in the wrong to walk out of a restaurant and or whether it was right to kick their bridesmaid out of the . This is the community for refreshingly honest feedback, and entertaining takes on real-life situations.
This year lept to the #3 most-viewed Reddit community, skyrocketing from the #21 spot in 2022. Minor grievances turned comedic? You bet! Whether you grimaced at , saw the audacity of a credit card hacker , or chuckled at , this was your go-to locale and one of the year's biggest gainers.
Reddit continued to be the nexus for all things entertainment
transcended to a whole new level when Keanu Reeves graced the community with his ), fulfilling the year's quota of collective awe while surpassing Barack Obama’s AMA as the top of all time. Keanu’s reaction to this news was . Across Reddit’s entertainment communities, we saw bubbling awash with , , and sheer across blockbuster scripted series like “Succession” ( ), “The Last of Us” ( ) and “Ted Lasso” ( ). But it was Reality TV that came out on top; it's official, folks, the biggest show on Reddit for 2023 was “RuPaul's Drag Race” ( ). , shantay, you stay!
Redditors demonstrated an unquenchable thirst for learning this year
The rise of (TIL) up 16 places to #25 most-viewed and up 28 places to #18 exemplifies redditors curiosity. On , people share intriguing facts and discoveries, from obscure gems like to scientific marvels and historical finds. offers a judgment-free space where real answers can be sought. But not to be outdone, surged in the rankings 26 places to #13 most-viewed, feeding daily doses of awe—from perfectly preserved to the wondrous .
Global events
continues to be a place for balanced discourse. Engagement around the latest Hamas/Israel conflict and breaking news from the Ukraine war highlights the community's importance as a place for thought-provoking and serious discussion.
Keep your eyes peeled for the robots
If 2023 had a digital buzzword on Reddit, it would undoubtedly be “Artificial Intelligence” (AI). A zeitgeist shift toward AI unfolded across the platform as , landed on Reddit. (up 579% YoY for views) and (up 24% YoY for views) were bubbling forums dissecting neural networks, questioning ethical AI, and pondering the future of machine-human coexistence while (up 1,887% YoY for views) continued to amaze with spectacular that left the community wondering ?’real or AI’’?
Hahaha, jajaja
The humor quotient of Reddit remained unparalleled. r/facepalm catapulted into the limelight to the #5 most-viewed community (up 23 places), capturing those moments that left us, well, facepalming. On the flip side, and provided comedic relief in spades, from uproarious memes to celebrity quips.
And let's not omit the year's surprise icon—John Oliver, Reddit's newest heartthrob in , possibly dethroning Keanu Reeves as Reddit’s sexiest man alive and is surely the only man who can make an API update sexy.
Guess Who's Back, Back Again: It's
The pixelated canvas that first captured imaginations worldwide in 2017 returned for its third iteration, reclaiming its throne as the ultimate collective Reddit experience. In 2023, was not just a Reddit phenomenon but a global affair. Redditors from 201 countries and territories joined the digital tapestry during its five-day showcase. This year, Germany contributed more pixels than even the United States. We saw redditors from Turkey and Vietnam join the fun, taking the #4 and #5 spot for most placed pixels on the global leaderboard, cementing as a genuinely international spectacle.
Now Let’s Tune into Reddit by the Numbers in 2023
Reddit is home to more than 100,000 active communities worldwide.
As of October 2023, Reddit has 70 million+ Daily Active Uniques, a 20% increase YoY.
Some of the most popular posts of 2023
: (230,531 upvotes)
: . (220,082 upvotes)
: (213,783 upvotes)
: (213,133 upvotes)
: (198,736 upvotes)
The Most Upvoted AMAs:
: (322,293 upvotes)
: (63,805 upvotes)
: (57,177 upvotes)
: (40,325 upvotes)
: (32,273 upvotes)
A Home for Everyone’s Interests and Passions:
First, let's examine the fastest-growing communities, which gives us a glimpse at what piqued people's interest. The influence of broadened with the emergence of an alternative community that climbed by 19,438% YoY for views. Unlike AITA, this community is a sanctuary for freely airing interpersonal grievances.
Meanwhile, experienced a surge of 1,880% YoY growth in views and emerged as a central hub for the dissection of the latest news and trends in pop culture. Similarly, the candid and vibrant saw a rapid rise, becoming the go-to community for redditors eager to divulge and spill the tea - up 162% YoY for views.
From the adrenaline-fueled sports fans and ever-evolving worlds of fashion and entertainment to the vibrant discussions around food and the intellectually stimulating debates around artificial intelligence, there’s a home for everyone’s passions on Reddit. Let’s take a deep dive into certain corners of the internet…
In 2023, Reddit wasn’t just buzzing; it was humming with AI chatter. From deep-dive to off-the-wall collabs like , Reddit emerged as the platform for exploring and discussing all things artificial intelligence. There has been a 650% increase in mentions of generative AI tools on Reddit in the year. While communities like and help redditors envision what lies ahead, several communities proved to be hotbeds for content sharing, whether that be or simply . Redditors are 36% more likely than the average internet user to express interest in future technologies, and a whopping 59% of redditors cite AI as the technological advancement they are most excited about - 20% higher than the internet average*.
While photography, artwork, and memes may capture the spotlight when it comes to AI, it’s also within business, career planning, personal finance, and life advice where the fastest-growing conversations are taking place on Reddit.
By the numbers:
, a community founded in December 2022, saw 331M views to date, taking the crown as the most-viewed AI-related community with over 3.5M subscribers.
grew 522% YoY for views.
grew 1,887% YoY for views.
saw a 587% growth in views YoY.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift captivated the charts (IRL) and hearts (online) of redditors. So much so that a community of Swifties even brought a father when he turned to Reddit to become Swift-ified as a way to bond. Meanwhile, Beyonce’s Renaissance international tour took the , and on the movie front, Greta Gerwig’s directorial brilliance shone in “Barbie the Movie,” with redditors for a big summer outing.
Also, in the music world, pole-vaulted its way to the most-viewed music category of 2023, surpassing the juggernaut of .
On the TV side of things, whether we admit it or not, drama is a key ingredient we all crave in reality television, and 2023 served it up in spades. ?’’’ catapulted to the #2 most-viewed community for 2023, but it was that took the top spot for the most-viewed community in the television category, I mean, if you can’t love yourself and , how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?! In the same genre, #4, and #6 followed closely behind**. On average, we see 2.8 times more comments in Television and entertainment communities vs all other categories on Reddit, and these Reality TV hubs were positively popping.
Most-viewed television show related communities***:
Most-viewed music-related communities:
In 2023, redditors shifted their focus towards the world of cosmetics, celebrating the mastery of new techniques and the exchange of invaluable advice. jumped four places to be the #3 most-viewed community in the beauty subcategory, with a 42% increase in views YoY. This community is a repository for beauty hacks and reviews and a nurturing space for advice and communal support. A poignant example can be found in a devoted husband who helped his blind wife prepare for a . Meanwhile, love is in the air, and weddings are back! After a few years of stop-start planning, we saw big increases in views for , up 51% YoY, and , up 84% YoY.
By the numbers:
The Fashion & Lifestyle category is up 26% YoY for views.
saw a 69% increase in views YoY, jumping five places to be the #5 most-viewed community in the Beauty subcategory.
had a 66% increase in views YoY to become the #6 most-viewed community in the Beauty subcategory.
jumped an astonishing 42 places with an increase of 86% in views YoY to be the #4 most-viewed community in the Fashion & Lifestyle category.
Most-viewed communities in Men's Fashion & Lifestyle Category:
Most-viewed communities in Women's Fashion & Lifestyle Category:
In 2023, Reddit’s Food and Drink communities continued to be vibrant hubs for culinary enthusiasts. Yes, the delectable dishes of still have the power to make mouths water, but it seems the tastes have turned. Forget the immaculate, picture-perfect meals; reigns supreme in 2023 as the trend du jour and our #1 most-viewed community in the category with a 58% increase in views YoY. Showcasing not the perfect, but the pretty ridiculous; anyone fancy some ? How about a or a pound of cheese on ?
And how about what the food is served on? is a movement against the gastronomic theatrics of serving food on wood or roof tiles, , sushi on , , or fish & chips in the . A community about championing the return to good old-fashioned plates.
Unimpressed? Well, the servers may have been unimpressed with your reaction. is home to where your servers are talking about you behind your back. Was this ?
By the numbers:
Food & Drink, as a category, is up 26% for views and 55% for engagement YoY.
, a community that helps other redditors find the name of that ingredient of their favorite dish or snack, saw a 92% increase YoY, from #107 most viewed to #12 most-viewed for 2023.
is up 45% to #15 most-viewed in the Food & Drink category. With chasing behind, up 48% YoY in views into #21 most-viewed.
, a community devoted to cast iron kitchenware, is up 43% YoY with one of the category’s most popular posts from this redditor, who their pan 80 times.
In the world of drinks, is up 25% YoY for views, with on the rise, up 30% for the year.
Gaming continues to be a juggernaut category on Reddit across the world. The launch of several blockbuster titles rocketed into Reddit's top 50 communities, boasting an eye-popping 2,815% YoY growth. Not to be overshadowed, secured its top 50 most-viewed spot, growing to a staggering 4,566% YoY ascent and claiming the #15 most-viewed community on the platform. As we round out the year with “Call of Duty Modern Warfare III” launching, the gaming realm isn't hitting pause anytime soon.
By the numbers:
With 38.6 million subscribers, is the #4 most-subscribed community on Reddit globally, an increase of 7.7M.
became the #1 most-viewed community in the category with a whopping 1.03B views and #15 most-viewed on Reddit.
retained their spot as the #2 most-viewed community in the category and #23 on the platform.
, shattered records with a jaw-dropping 23,760% YoY growth.
Whether redditors were comparing soccer (football) matches (and the community’s reactions) or watching last-minute , Reddit communities are the digital stadiums for impassioned fans. and gained ground as must-visit destinations, with jumping two spots to #4 most-viewed on Reddit.
By the numbers:
The Sports category saw an 8% YoY increase in views, totaling 14.7 billion total views in 2023.
is the #1 most viewed community in the Sports category.
holds steady for the #7 most-viewed community on the platform and the #2nd most viewed in the Sports category.
, the community for Arsenal FC fans, was the most-viewed sports team and #9 most-viewed community in the Sports category overall.
is up 49% YoY for screen views.
had a special year with the Rugby World Cup 2023 France and saw an increase in views by 54% YoY.
Other communities with increasing numbers included , which saw a 22% YoY increase in views, saw a 27% YoY increase in views, and , which also had a World Cup year, saw a 17% YoY increase in views.
Biggest sports by country:
United States: Basketball & Football
(#7 most-engaged community in the country and #4 most-viewed community on the platform)
(#9 most-engaged community in the country)
Australia: Rugby League and Australian Football
(#7 most-engaged community in the country)
(#11 most-engaged community in the country)
Canada: Hockey and Basketball
(#6 most-engaged community in the country)
(#7 most-engaged community in the country)
France: Soccer
(#11 most-engaged community in the country)
Germany: Soccer
(#14 most-engaged community in the country)
United Kingdom: Soccer
(#3 most-engaged community in the country)
Top 5 NBA team communities, ranked by engagement (most invested fans):
, , , ,
Top 5 NFL team communities ranked by engagement (most invested fans):
, , , ,
Top 5 Soccer team communities, ranked by engagement (most invested fans):
, , , ,
Top 5 MLB team communities, ranked by engagement (most invested fans):
, , , ,
As we close the book on 2023 and embark on 2024, we should all anticipate transformative trends and surprising developments. That said, here are some of our forecasts for an intriguing year ahead: