Risk Score
0 = very fair · 100 = very risky
Summary
This is Reddit's User Agreement (effective March 31, 2026) covering both US/international users and EEA/UK/Switzerland users. The agreement is a standard social media terms of service but contains several aggressive provisions, including a very broad, perpetual, irrevocable license to use all user-submitted content including for AI/ML training, Reddit's ability to terminate accounts at any time for any or no reason, and a liability cap of just $100. The document is moderately one-sided in Reddit's favor, which is typical for large social media platforms, but the AI training license and extremely broad content license stand out as particularly aggressive.
Flagged Clauses
When you post anything on Reddit, you give Reddit an essentially unlimited, permanent license to use that content in almost any way they want — including training AI systems — even after you delete your account or stop using the service. You keep ownership in name, but Reddit's usage rights are extremely broad.
“You grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, copy, modify, adapt, prepare derivative works of, distribute, store, perform, and display Your Content... in all media formats and channels now known or later developed anywhere in the world. This license includes the right to use Your Content to train AI and machine learning models.”
Reddit can share your posts, comments, images, and other content with third-party partners for distribution or publication, without any additional consent from you and without compensation.
“This license includes the right for us to make Your Content available for syndication, broadcast, distribution, or publication by other companies, organizations, or individuals who partner with Reddit.”
You permanently give up your right to be credited as the creator of your content or to object to how it is used or modified, even in ways you might find objectionable.
“You irrevocably waive any claims and assertions of moral rights or attribution with respect to Your Content.”
Reddit can ban or suspend your account at any time, even without giving a reason. Any purchases or content tied to your account may become inaccessible as a result.
“To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we may suspend or terminate your Account, moderator status, or ability to access or use the Services at any time for any or no reason, including for violating these Terms or our Reddit Rules.”
No matter what Reddit does wrong or what harm results, the most you can ever recover from Reddit is $100 (or what you paid in the last 6 months, if more). This severely limits your ability to seek meaningful compensation for any damages.
“In no event will the aggregate liability of the Reddit Entities exceed the greater of one hundred U.S. dollars ($100) or any amount you paid Reddit in the previous six months for the Services giving rise to the claim.”
Reddit can change the terms at any time. Only 'material' changes — as decided solely by Reddit — trigger email notification. Simply continuing to use Reddit after changes take effect means you've agreed to the new terms.
“We may make changes to these Terms from time to time. If we make changes, we will post the revised Terms and update the Effective Date above. If the changes, in our sole discretion, are material, we may also notify you by sending an email... By continuing to access or use the Services on or after the Effective Date of the revised Terms, you agree to be bound by the revised Terms.”
Anything you buy through Reddit (awards, premium features, digital goods) is a license, not a purchase. You do not own these items and may lose access to them if your account is terminated.
“You acknowledge and agree that you shall not acquire any ownership rights whatsoever by downloading Materials or by purchasing Paid Services.”
If a third party sues Reddit because of something you posted or did on the platform, you may be responsible for paying Reddit's legal costs and any damages. This is a broad obligation that goes beyond just intentional wrongdoing.
“You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold Reddit, its affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees... harmless from and against any claim or demand made by any third party... due to, arising out of, or in connection with: (a) your use of the Services; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of applicable laws or regulations; or (d) Your Content.”
The Terms defer data practices entirely to a separate Privacy Policy document, which is not included here. Full understanding of data collection, sharing, and selling practices requires reviewing that additional document separately.
“Reddit's Privacy Policy explains how and why we collect, use, and share information about you when you access or use our Services. You understand that through your use of the Services, you consent to the collection and use of this information as set forth in the Privacy Policy.”
Even after your account is deleted or terminated, Reddit retains its broad license to use your content, and you remain bound by the indemnification obligations and liability limitations.
“Sections 5 (Your Content), 7 (Things You Cannot Do), 12 (Indemnity), 13 (Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability), 14 (Governing Law and Venue), 17 (Termination), and 18 (Miscellaneous) will survive any termination of these Terms or of your Account.”
If you suggest a feature or improvement to Reddit, they can implement it without giving you credit or compensation. This is standard across the industry.
“Any ideas, suggestions, and feedback about Reddit or our Services that you provide to us are entirely voluntary, and you agree that Reddit may use such ideas, suggestions, and feedback without compensation or obligation to you.”
Reddit makes no promises about the reliability, accuracy, or availability of its service. If the platform goes down, loses your data, or contains errors, Reddit accepts no responsibility.
“THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED 'AS IS' AND 'AS AVAILABLE' WITHOUT REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND... THE REDDIT ENTITIES DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES ARE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, RELIABLE, CURRENT, OR ERROR FREE.”
Missing Protections
- No mandatory arbitration clause is present in this version of the Terms (notable absence — could be in Additional Terms referenced but not included here)
- No explicit data deletion guarantee upon account termination — the content license survives account deletion
- No refund policy described in these Terms for Paid Services (deferred to Econ Terms not included in this document)
- No clear notice period before term changes take effect — changes appear to be effective on the posted date
- No explicit right to data portability described (may be in Privacy Policy, but not in these Terms)
- No dispute resolution procedure beyond 'raise it informally' and California courts — no mediation step described
- No explicit commitments around account reinstatement appeals or a formal review process for termination decisions
Fair Terms
- Users explicitly retain ownership rights in their own content, even though a broad license is granted to Reddit
- Reddit acknowledges that statutory rights in certain jurisdictions may override the liability limitations in Section 13, providing some protection for users in those regions
- A separate, more protective version of the Terms exists for EEA, UK, and Switzerland users, suggesting some regional consumer protections are accommodated
- Reddit provides a formal DMCA counter-notice process, giving users a pathway to appeal wrongful content removal
- Reddit explicitly states it has no obligation to endorse or guarantee the accuracy of user content, which clarifies the platform's nature
- The Terms acknowledge that Reddit will try to notify users before removing features, though it reserves the right not to
Document information only — not legal advice.