Reddit blocks URL access to deleted posts

Reddit is going to block URL access to deleted messages for all users, including the user who posted the message. According to the platform, it is confusing for users when they come across posts that have had their content removed but still have comments.

The policy change affects both posts removed by the poster themselves, as well as posts removed by moderators or admins. As of Monday, the entire page of such a post will no longer be available to users.

Previously, the content of the message was no longer readable and was replaced by [removed] or [deleted]. However, the headline, all awards and comments were still available to users. This created a “confusing and negative experience” for users, Reddit writes. This would also be “not a great experience” for a user who deleted his or her post.

The policy does depend a bit on who deletes a post. If the user deletes his or her post, the entire page, including headline, comments and other matters, is no longer accessible via the direct URL. Users who navigate to that link will be redirected to the subreddit or profile page where the post was originally posted.

Posts deleted by moderators, bots, or admins will be restricted to posts with fewer than two comments and less than two upvotes. These values ​​will be slowly increased over the coming period, the platform writes. The posting user, subreddit moderators, and Reddit admins will still be able to see the post. All other users are redirected to the community or profile page.

Reddit does not write what happens to posts that have received more than two comments and upvotes. It seems that the comments of these messages, for example, will remain. In addition, the deleted posts via the Pushshift API will still be available at archive sites such as removeddit.com.

Under the new policy, moderators will no longer be able to moderate comments on posts that have been deleted by users. Reddit says it wants to come up with a solution for this. The platform also wants to show a message when users receive a redirect to the community or profile page, so that these users understand why they are getting this redirect. Also, the reactions of the poster and moderators should not be counted when determining what happens to posts that have been removed by mods and admins. These latest new features should be released in the coming months. The direct URL blocking went into effect on Monday.