You’ve been commenting on Reddit for days. Maybe even weeks. But your comment karma is stuck at the same number. You upvote others, you reply thoughtfully, yet the counter barely moves.
This is frustrating, but it’s usually fixable. The problem is rarely that people dislike your comments. More often, your comments aren’t being seen, or they’re being filtered out before anyone can vote on them. Here’s how to systematically fix it.
What You Need Before You Start
- Your Reddit username (obviously)
- A browser where you’re logged out or an incognito window
- Patience: this isn’t a one-hour fix
- A list of subreddits where you’ve commented recently
Step 1: Confirm Your Comments Are Actually Visible
The most common reason comment karma not going up is that your comments are invisible to everyone except you.
Do the incognito test:
1. Log out of Reddit or open an incognito window.
2. Navigate to a comment you made in the last 24 hours.
3. If you don’t see it, the subreddit’s filters removed it.
If a comment is invisible, no one can upvote it. Your karma will stay frozen. Move to Step 2.
Step 2: Check for a Shadowban or Account Restriction
A shadowban means your account still works from your perspective, but everything you post is invisible to everyone else. This is a common cause of comment karma not going up for new accounts.
How to check:
– Go to r/ShadowBan and post a comment asking if you’re shadowbanned. If the AutoModerator replies, you’re probably not. If you see no response, you likely are.
– Alternatively, use the incognito test from Step 1 on multiple comments across different subreddits.
If you are shadowbanned, you can appeal via the Reddit appeal form. Most first-time shadowbans are lifted if you explain you didn’t know about the rule you broke. Being shadowbanned often explains why a post not showing or comment not visible happens across the entire site.
Step 3: Verify Subreddit-Specific Karma Thresholds
Even if you aren’t shadowbanned, many subreddits have AutoModerator rules that automatically remove comments from accounts below a certain karma threshold. This is especially common on large subreddits like r/funny, r/pics, or r/AskReddit.
How to check:
– Look at the subreddit’s sidebar or rules page. Some explicitly state a karma minimum.
– If you can’t find one, assume there is one. Most large subreddits require 10–100 comment karma to speak freely.
If a post removed message appears when you try to comment, that’s a clear sign you hit a filter.
Step 4: Audit Your Comment Quality and Timing
If your comments are visible and you aren’t shadowbanned, the issue might be your approach.
Quality checks:
– Are you adding value? Comments like “lol” or “this” rarely get upvotes.
– Are you commenting in active threads? A comment on a 12-hour-old post will get almost no eyes.
– Are you commenting in the right subreddits? Some subreddits are naturally low-engagement. Avoid them for now.
Timing checks:
– Post comments within the first hour of a thread being published. That’s when most votes happen.
– Avoid posting during off-hours (like 3 AM in the subreddit’s primary timezone).
Step 5: If Everything Else Fails, Change Your Approach
Sometimes your account is clean, your comments are visible, but you’re still stuck. In that case, you need a different strategy.
- Switch to high-traffic, low-barrier subreddits. r/AskReddit, r/CasualConversation, and r/NoStupidQuestions are good starting points.
- Ask questions instead of giving answers. Questions often get more engagement from people who want to help.
- Reply to top-level comments in active threads. Your reply is more likely to be seen than a standalone comment in a slow thread.
Common Blockers and Why They Happen
| Blocker | Likely Cause |
|---|---|
| Comments invisible in incognito | Subreddit filter or shadowban |
| One subreddit blocks you, others don’t | Subreddit-specific karma/age threshold |
| Account works but karma never moves | Comments are in dead threads or low-engagement subreddits |
| Getting downvotes instead of upvotes | Comment content, tone, or subreddit culture mismatch |
Practical Example: A User Stuck at 15 Comment Karma for Two Weeks
User Jane created a new account and started commenting in r/technology and r/gaming. After two weeks, her comment karma was still 15. She did the incognito test and found that all her comments in r/gaming were invisible. She checked r/ShadowBan and learned she wasn’t shadowbanned, but her account was under 30 days old, and r/gaming had a 50-comment-karma filter.
She moved to r/AskReddit and r/CasualConversation, where filters were lower. She asked simple, honest questions in fresh threads. Within three days, her comment karma went from 15 to 120. Then she could comment in r/gaming.
Checklist for Your Next Week of Commenting
- [ ] Run the incognito test on 3 recent comments.
- [ ] Check if you’re shadowbanned via r/ShadowBan.
- [ ] Identify 3 subreddits with low or no karma thresholds.
- [ ] Comment within the first hour of a thread’s life.
- [ ] Ask a question or add direct value (no one-liners).
- [ ] Avoid posting more than 5 comments per hour.
- [ ] After 3 days, check if your comment karma moves.
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FAQ
Q: How long does it take for comment karma to start going up after I fix the issues?
A: If your comments become visible and you are in active threads, you should see movement within 24–48 hours. Real visibility often leads to votes within the first few hours of a comment.
Q: Can I increase comment karma by upvoting other people’s comments?
A: No. Upvoting others does not give you karma. Only receiving upvotes on your own comments increases your comment karma.
Q: What if my comments are visible but no one upvotes them?
A: That means your comments aren’t engaging enough. Focus on high-traffic subreddits and write comments that add information, humor, or ask follow-up questions. Avoid generic replies.
Q: Is there a way to know exactly which subreddit filtered my comment?
A: Not directly. But if your comment is visible in one subreddit but invisible in another using the incognito test, that specific subreddit’s AutoModerator or spam filter is likely the cause.
Q: Can an account be too old for karma filters?
A: Account age matters, but karma is the primary metric. A 2-year-old account with 5 karma will still be filtered in many subreddits. Both age and karma are used, but karma is usually the stronger factor.
