Got shadowbanned last month.

No warning. No explanation. Just suddenly my posts stopped appearing in feeds.

Took me two weeks to figure out what happened. Turns out Reddit updated their algorithm and I broke rules I did not even know existed.

Here is everything I learned about how Reddit ranking works now.

What Changed in 2025

Reddit used to be simple. Upvotes minus downvotes equals visibility. More upvotes = front page.

Not anymore.

The 2025 algorithm is more like Instagram or TikTok now. Multiple factors. Hidden weights. AI detection.

Here are the five biggest changes:

1. AI Content Detection is Real

This is the one that got me.

Reddit partnered with OpenAI. They are using AI to detect AI-generated content.

My "shadowban" was actually my posts being suppressed because my writing style triggered their detection. I was using ChatGPT to clean up my grammar.

The fix was embarrassingly simple: write worse.

What triggers detection:

Perfectly structured paragraphs
Consistent sentence length
"Furthermore" and "In conclusion" type phrases
Too many formatting elements

What passes:

Typos and casual language
Varied sentence length
Incomplete thoughts
Conversational tone

I ran an experiment. Posted the same content two ways:

Version A (polished): 127 views, 3 upvotes, removed within 2 hours

Version B (casual): 1,400 views, 89 upvotes, still visible

Same information. Completely different results.

2. Engagement Velocity Matters More Than Total Upvotes

Old Reddit: get 100 upvotes over 24 hours = decent visibility.

New Reddit: get 20 upvotes in 15 minutes = front page potential.

The algorithm now tracks HOW FAST you get engagement, not just how much.

This is why timing matters so much now. Posts that get immediate comments and upvotes get pushed harder by the algorithm.

What this means:

You need to post when your target audience is active. Not when YOU are available.

I use Reddit Toolbox to analyze posting patterns in my niche subreddits. Turns out the optimal times are not what I expected:

r/startups: Tuesday 9am EST
r/entrepreneur: Wednesday 11am EST
r/SaaS: Thursday 2pm EST

Miss those windows by 3 hours? Your post gets buried.

3. Subreddit-Specific Rules Have More Weight

Here is something weird.

The same post performs completely differently across subreddits. Even when the audience seems identical.

With the 2025 algorithm, subreddit moderator rules feed into ranking decisions. AutoMod settings, community guidelines - they all affect how the algorithm treats your content.

Post the exact same helpful comment in r/entrepreneur and r/smallbusiness. One might get 50 upvotes. The other might get filtered silently.

How to adapt:

Lurk before posting (old advice, still true)
Read the sidebar COMPLETELY
Check recent posts for what gets engagement
See what AutoMod removes (sometimes visible in removal logs)

4. External Links Get Downranked

Remember when you could drop a link and get clicks?

Those days are dying.

Reddit is more sensitive to posts that exist mainly to drive traffic elsewhere. The algorithm detects:

Posts where the whole point is an external link
Comments mentioning websites repeatedly
Users who primarily post links

What works now:

Provide value IN the Reddit post
Mention brands by name without linking
"Link in bio" style references
Let people search for you

I switched from posting links to just mentioning "wappkit reddit tool" in relevant comments. No URL.

Result: more people actually search and find my site. And they are more qualified leads because they made the effort.

Weird but effective.

5. Downvotes Count More (Silently)

This one is subtle.

Reddit says upvotes and downvotes are "weighted equally" now. But I have noticed something else.

Posts that get early downvotes - even just 2-3 - seem to get permanently suppressed. Even if they get 50+ upvotes later.

My theory: the algorithm interprets early downvotes as "community rejection" and limits distribution.

How to protect yourself:

Delete posts that get early downvotes (seriously)
Avoid controversial opening statements
Lead with value, not opinion
Post in communities where you have established credibility

My Adjusted Posting Strategy

Based on everything above, here is what I do now:

Before posting:

Check if I have posted in this subreddit recently (avoid overposting)
Research optimal posting time for this community
Read the 10 most recent popular posts for tone
Write casually, not professionally

Right after posting:

Watch for early downvotes (first 10 minutes)
If I get 2+ early downvotes, delete and repost later with different framing
Respond to any comments IMMEDIATELY (boosts engagement velocity)

Within first hour:

Check if post is visible (not filtered)
Add value-add comment if relevant
Move on - do not obsess over one post

Tools That Help

You do not need expensive tools. But some things help:

Free:

Reddit Pro (for your own analytics)
Manual subreddit research
Simple spreadsheet for tracking

Paid alternatives:

Reddit Toolbox - I use this for bulk subreddit analysis and finding optimal posting times
Various Chrome extensions for monitoring

The key is having SOME data. Guessing what works is a waste of time with the new algorithm.

Algorithm Changes Summary

| Factor | 2024 | 2025 | |--------|------|------| | AI detection | Minimal | Aggressive | | Engagement speed | Moderate | Critical | | Subreddit rules | Advisory | Algorithmic | | External links | Allowed | Penalized | | Early downvotes | Minor | Significant |

What is Coming Next

Based on Reddit's announcements, expect:

More AI-powered content moderation
Paywalls for new communities
"Reddit Answers" affecting post visibility
Performance advertising tied to organic mentions

The Reddit of 2025 is more like a traditional social platform. Less wild west. More structured games.

Adapt or get filtered.

Reddit Toolbox is $9.99/month if you want help tracking these patterns. But honestly, the strategy works with just manual observation too. Just takes longer.

Reddit Algorithm 2025: 5 Changes That Affect Your Posts (Updated)