Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile

In a significant move towards user privacy, Reddit has unveiled a new feature designed to give its users greater control over the visibility of their content. Announced on Tuesday, this update introduces a 'Content and Activity' setting, allowing individuals to curate what appears on their profiles from the various subreddits they frequent. Users can now choose to hide their entire posting and commenting history, which will remain public by default. The new functionality also permits users to selectively display content from chosen communities while concealing others. This setting is conveniently located within the newly created 'Curate your profile' section, offering options to manage the visibility of NSFW content as well as follower counts. This enhancement aims to foster a more private experience on Reddit, catering to users who previously opted for anonymous accounts to discuss sensitive topics. As Reddit evolves into a more advertisement-focused platform following its IPO, this feature likely serves the dual purpose of protecting user privacy while also keeping user engagement data linked to individual profiles for targeted advertising. With this update, users may feel more empowered to engage with discussions on delicate subjects, knowing they can obscure their activity from public view. However, it's important to note that while users can hide or display posts on a community basis, they cannot select specific posts or comments to show or hide. Furthermore, users should remain aware that their usernames will still be visible next to their contributions in the communities. Moderators will continue to have access to a user's public activity history for 28 days, which is vital for managing community standards. Additionally, profile owners may temporarily view a user's complete post and comment history if there are direct interactions on their profile. The update also includes enhanced personal activity summaries, showcasing a user’s engagement metrics like Karma count, contributions, account age, and active communities based on their content settings. Overall, these changes reflect Reddit's commitment to user privacy while navigating the complexities of ad-driven revenue.