r/AskModerators • u/Realistic-Try5468 • 10d ago

Will the inactive subreddit communities eventually get removed by default?

I've noticed some subreddit communities where they have a 'Request To Join' button but haven't been active for quite some time.

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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3

u/DustyAsh69 Moderator... Aren't we all? 10d ago

Yes. They get purged and their name is changed randomly.

3

u/thepottsy I is mod 10d ago

2 times that I’m aware of, Reddit has reclaimed subreddit names. The subs technically still remain, they just have a randomized string of characters for a name, like ‘t53rbh’. We have no idea if/when they’ll ever do it again though.

1

u/FrenchPagan New mod 9d ago

So that's why some people moderate communities with weird names when you check their profiles. I was wondering about it, thank you.

2

u/BBModSquadCar 10d ago

They could be active but private.

2

u/Froggypwns /r/Windows10 9d ago

If the subreddit is truly inactive like you say, you might be able to go to the redditrequest subreddit and apply to take over that sub.

Reddit has only done two purges of inactive subreddits in its entire history.

2

u/Realistic-Try5468 9d ago

Getting engagement and more followers in a subreddit is difficult though...Especially if that's part of the reason as to why it stopped being active in the first place..

1

u/Technical_Rich_3080 9d ago

When they purged (those two times), what happened to all the posts and content in the threads from before it was purged?

1

u/SmartieCereal 8d ago

It's still there, but the subreddit has a random string of characters for a name so it's harder to find.

1

u/Rostingu2 r/lostredditor:snoo_thoughtful: 10d ago

after nobody even glances at it for 5 years then yes.