Reddit’s subreddits flourish when members are active, collaborative, and united by purpose. This manifesto puts Redditors and meaningful engagement first; replacing rigid rulebooks with flexible, member-led community building. We see subreddit moderation and management as an evolving process, guided by a clear purpose and shared values. These core principles help us nurture thriving spaces where everyone feels ownership and impact.

Core Principles

Member Engagement Over Rigid Protocols:
We prioritize genuine participation and connection above strict rules or one-way mod announcements. Subreddits thrive when people post, comment, create, and moderate together. Rather than relying solely on exhaustive documentation, we encourage ongoing dialogue, resource-sharing, and recognition of member contributions. This builds trust and makes the subreddit welcoming and dynamic.

Continuous Adaptation Over Fixed Plans:
Subreddit management is an ongoing journey, not a static set of guidelines. We are committed to listening to feedback, observing how our Reddit community evolves, and updating approaches as needed. Rather than sticking to a rigid moderation roadmap, we stay flexible and ready to respond to new challenges or opportunities. This adaptability keeps the subreddit vibrant and relevant.

Clear Purpose and Shared Values:
Every subreddit needs a backbone: a clearly-defined mission and set of values that guide all decisions and interactions. We establish our purpose and values up front, letting them steer all our actions… moderator and member alike. When everyone understands why the subreddit exists and what it stands for, collaboration gets easier and more meaningful. Shared values help us align efforts, resolve conflicts, and foster belonging.

Voluntary Participation and Leadership:
On Reddit, engagement is strongest when it’s opt-in. Users and mods contribute because they care, bringing authentic enthusiasm to the subreddit. We encourage distributed leadership—anyone can step up, offer ideas, or organize activities. By nurturing ownership and trust, we let individual members shine and help the subreddit self-organize naturally.

These principles form a subreddit-first guide.
With people and purpose at the center, we create subreddits that are adaptive, collaborative, and driven by members. Spaces where everyone can contribute, innovate, and grow together.