Short Direct Answer for Beginners
Your comment karma is not going up because either your comments aren’t being seen, they aren’t being upvoted, or they’re being removed before anyone can vote on them. The fix isn’t about posting more—it’s about posting in the right places, at the right time, and in the right way.
How Comment Karma Actually Works (In Plain English)
Reddit isn’t a regular forum. Each subreddit is its own community with its own rules, culture, and filters. When you leave a comment, it has to survive three gates before earning you karma:
- The subreddit’s AutoModerator or spam filter – This bot checks your account age, karma, and posting history. If your account looks new or suspicious, your comment gets removed silently.
- The community’s attention – Even if your comment is visible, it needs to be seen and upvoted by other users.
- Reddit’s vote algorithm – Not all upvotes count the same. Votes from new or suspicious accounts may be ignored.
So when your comment karma is not going up, one of these three gates is blocking you.
Why Your Comment Karma Is Stuck (The 3 Real Reasons)
1. Your Comments Are Being Removed Without You Knowing
This is the most common reason. You type a comment, hit save, and it looks fine to you. But to everyone else, it doesn’t exist. The AutoModerator removed your post or comment because:
- Your account is too new (under a few days old).
- You have low or zero karma.
- You’re posting in a subreddit with a minimum karma requirement.
Many beginners don’t realize their post not showing is the reason their karma is stuck. You can’t earn votes on invisible comments.
2. You’re Commenting in Dead or Overcrowded Threads
If you’re commenting on posts that are hours old, nobody is reading them. The thread has already moved on. Similarly, if you’re in a massive subreddit like r/funny or r/AskReddit, your comment is competing with thousands of others. It gets buried instantly.
3. Your Comments Are Low-Effort or Out of Place
Reddit communities can smell a karma-farming comment from a mile away. A comment that says “This” or “Lol” or “First!” rarely gets upvoted. Worse, it may get downvoted, which lowers your karma further. If your comment karma not going up is your only concern, you might be writing comments that don’t add value.
Practical Steps to Get Your Comment Karma Moving
Step 1: Check If Your Comments Are Actually Visible
Open an incognito or private browser window. Go to the thread where you commented. If you can’t find your comment, it was removed.
You can also check using a tool like the Reddit comment visibility checker (search for it). If your comment was caught by the Reddit spam filter, you’ll need to contact the subreddit moderators and ask them to approve it.
Step 2: Find Subreddits with No Karma Requirements
Big subreddits often have high karma thresholds. Instead, start in subreddits that are friendly to new users:
- r/AskReddit (most comments are visible)
- r/CasualConversation
- r/NoStupidQuestions
- r/NewToReddit
- Niche hobby subreddits (smaller, more engaged, less strict)
Read the subreddit rules carefully. Some require you to have a certain amount of karma or account age before you can comment. If you try to bypass these rules, your account may get flagged.
Step 3: Write Comments That People Actually Want to Upvote
This is the only sustainable way to increase comment karma. Focus on:
- Adding new information – If someone asks a question, give a detailed, helpful answer.
- Being funny or clever – But only if it fits the subreddit’s culture.
- Asking a good follow-up question – This keeps the conversation going and invites replies.
A single thoughtful comment in a small but active subreddit can earn you 10–20 upvotes. That matters more than 50 low-effort comments that get downvoted.
Step 4: Time Your Comments Right
Post in threads that are less than 2 hours old. Sort a subreddit by “New” and comment on fresh posts. This gives your comment more time to be seen and upvoted.
Common Beginner Mistakes That Keep You Stuck
- Commenting only on your own posts – Other users are less likely to engage.
- Posting links too early – Reddit’s spam filter is aggressive with new accounts.
- Arguing in the comments – Downvotes kill your karma fast.
- Deleting downvoted comments – The karma loss stays even after deletion.
- Using the same comment in multiple threads – This looks like spam and gets you banned.
Checklist: What to Do Today
- Check if your comments are visible in an incognito window.
- Join 3 small subreddits related to your interests.
- Read the rules of each subreddit before commenting.
- Write one detailed, helpful comment on a fresh post (under 1 hour old).
- Wait 24 hours before posting any links or creating your own posts.
Practical Takeaway
Comment karma not going up is almost always a visibility problem, not a quality problem. Fix your visibility by finding subreddits with low karma requirements, commenting in fresh threads, and writing comments that genuinely help or entertain. One good comment in the right place is worth a hundred in the wrong one.
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FAQ
Q: How long does it take for comment karma to update on Reddit?
A: Comment karma updates in real time. If you see your upvote count go up but your total karma doesn’t change, it means Reddit’s vote fuzzing system is adjusting the numbers. Give it a few hours, and the total should reflect the real count.
Q: Can I buy Reddit accounts to get comment karma faster?
A: Buying accounts with existing karma is an option some marketers use, but it comes with risks. The account needs to have real, visible comment history and a matching niche. Always check the account’s age, karma type, and access details before purchasing. A blank or bot-filled account won’t help.
Q: Will downvotes on one subreddit affect my karma in another?
A: Yes. Your total comment karma is a global number across all of Reddit. If you get downvoted heavily in one subreddit, your total drops, which can make it harder to post in other subreddits with minimum karma requirements.
Q: Why does my comment show up for me but not for others?
A: This means the AutoModerator or a subreddit filter removed your comment. Only you and the moderators can see it. You need to message the mods and ask them to manually approve it, or delete it and try again with a different approach.
Q: Do upvotes from my own alternate accounts count?
A: No. Reddit’s algorithm detects vote manipulation from the same IP address or device. Your alt account’s upvote will be ignored or reversed, and both accounts could be banned for vote manipulation.
