How to Become a Reddit Moderator: A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Becoming a Reddit Moderator: How to Become a Mod and What to Expect
Reddit moderation is a bit of a dark art. Not in a sinister way — but it is one of those roles that looks simple from the outside and turns out to be far more nuanced once you’re actually doing it.
In this article, I’ll explain how to become a Reddit moderator, what moderators actually do, and what you should realistically expect if you’re thinking of stepping into the role — especially within niche communities like music subreddits.
What Is a Reddit Moderator?
A Reddit moderator (often called a “mod”) is a volunteer who manages a subreddit — Reddit’s version of a forum or community.
Moderators don’t work for Reddit itself. Instead, they’re responsible for shaping and maintaining individual communities by setting rules and enforcing them.
As a Reddit mod, you control:
- What content is allowed
- How posts should be formatted
- When and how often users can post
- How rules are enforced across the subreddit
In short, moderators define the tone, quality, and direction of a subreddit.
The Easiest Way to Become a Reddit Moderator: Start Your Own Subreddit
The most direct way to become a Reddit moderator is to create your own subreddit. Once you do, you automatically become the top moderator.
From there, you can:
- Create posting and commenting rules
- Filter language and explicit content
- Block specific links or domains
- Control promotional content
- Use Reddit’s built-in automation tools
One particularly useful feature is post flairs — small labels that help categorize content. For example, in a music subreddit, flairs might include genres like:
- Rock
- Pop
- Electronic
- Funk
- Indie
These make browsing easier and help users understand what a post is about at a glance.
Reddit itself also applies background filtering, meaning some posts may be removed automatically before a moderator even sees them. Compared to platforms like Facebook Groups, Reddit moderation is far more structured and heavily moderated by design.
What Moderators Actually Do Day to Day
Being a Reddit moderator isn’t just about deleting posts.
Moderators can:
- Remove posts or comments
- Temporarily suspend users
- Permanently ban accounts
- Respond to user reports
- Invite additional moderators
- Assign different permission levels to mods
Not every moderator needs full control. Some may only review posts, while others focus on rule enforcement or community management.
In music subreddits especially, one of the most common problems is self-promotion. Many users post links to their own music or marketing content, even when the subreddit is designed for discussion rather than promotion.
If self-promotion isn’t allowed, those posts usually get removed quickly. Clear rules make moderation easier and reduce arguments.
Why Being an Active Member Improves Your Chances of Becoming a Mod
If you don’t want to start your own subreddit, this is one of the most important things to understand:
Being an active member of existing subreddits significantly improves your chances of becoming a moderator.
Reddit moderation is rarely about who asks first. It’s about who consistently contributes in a positive, visible way.
By regularly posting and commenting in subreddits you genuinely care about, you build trust and familiarity within those communities.
Moderators tend to notice:
- Users who follow the rules
- People who contribute thoughtful posts and comments
- Members who help others or guide discussions
- Familiar usernames that appear regularly and positively
When a subreddit needs new moderators, the mod team will almost always prefer someone they already recognize rather than a complete unknown.
If your goal is to become a Reddit mod, don’t rush it. Participate first, contribute often, and focus on adding value— moderation opportunities often follow naturally.
How to Become a Moderator in an Existing Subreddit
If you’re active in a subreddit and want to take things further, check how many moderators it already has. You can see this on the right-hand side of the subreddit page.
- If a subreddit already has 10 or more moderators, your chances are usually slim
- If it only has 2 or 3 moderators, there may be room to help
In that case, you can message the mod team and simply say you’re happy to assist if they’re looking for support.
That’s exactly how I became involved in larger subreddits. I started with my own, stayed active elsewhere, and eventually got invited to help moderate. Over time, people left — and I effectively inherited the role of main moderator.
That kind of progression is more common on Reddit than you might expect.
Taking Over Inactive or “Dead” Subreddits
Another lesser-known option is taking over inactive subreddits.
Reddit has dedicated systems that allow users to:
- Apply to moderate abandoned subreddits
- Request control of communities with inactive moderators
If a subreddit hasn’t seen moderator activity for months, Reddit may intervene and allow new moderators to step in. Existing moderators are usually contacted first to confirm whether they’re still active.
These subreddits are often small or niche — sometimes for good reason — but it’s still a legitimate way to become a moderator.
Is Being a Reddit Moderator Worth It?
Overall, moderating a subreddit can be interesting, rewarding, and educational, especially in focused communities like music.
However, it can become tedious if:
- Users constantly report each other
- Complaints outweigh genuine discussion
- Rules aren’t clearly defined or enforced
The key to good moderation is prevention. Strong rules, automation tools, and clear guidelines reduce problems before they start and make moderation far more manageable.
Final Thoughts on Becoming a Reddit Moderator
Becoming a Reddit moderator isn’t difficult — but being a good one takes time, patience, and consistency.
If you:
- Care about a subject
- Enjoy community building
- Don’t mind occasional conflict resolution
…then Reddit moderation can be genuinely rewarding.
If you have questions about becoming a Reddit moderator, feel free to reach out.
And if you’re into music, check out my subreddit — I’ve linked it below.
Good luck, and happy moderating.

