r/teenagers 18h ago

Mod [mod] Tightening requirements for political submissions

63 Upvotes

r/teenagers is not a political subreddit, and we never intend to be. However, in this current day and age, it is important for teenagers to discuss such topics. So while we aren't a political subreddt, we don't intend to restrict political posts.

However, it's become quite clear that that same idea of "[not] intending to restrict political posts." also does some harm. We don't currently have any rules surrounding such posts because it was never an intended talking point of this subreddit. This lack of proper guardrails has lead to an influx of falsified news, biased writeups, harmful rhetoric, etc.

Because of this, we're changing a few things.


1. Introducing a new flair

This flair will be appropriately named Political/Current Events. All submissions that fall under the umbrella of politics, and submissions that reference any notable current event, must assign this flair. Failure to do so will result in post removal.

Of course, to know when to assign that flair, you must know what counts as political. Politics doesn't solely mean government. Some examples of what would be considered political are:

  • Government: Elections, legislation, government agencies, politicians, public officials, and foreign policy.
  • Social and Ideological Issues: Public debates on civil rights, economic policy, war, identity, ideologies, public health, etc.

If you feel a post falls under the political umbrella, it probably does. Posts that also touch on certain current events are to be assigned this flair. The two often bleed into each other. Some examples of what would be considered a notable current event are:

  • Breaking & Developing News Stories: These invite rapid speculation, unverified rumors, and rage-bait-esque remarks before facts are verified.
  • Events Involving Public Officials or Institutions: Any current event involving heads of state, local government officials, law enforcement agencies, or legislative bodies.

With the introduction of a dedicated flair, it allows users to filter out political posts. We've been asked this a bit, so this is a fair middle ground to allow hiding, without totally restricting. On the flipside, it does also allow users to solely filter by political posts, which is a slippery slope. This is where some guardrails are introduced:

2. Karma requirements

From this point on, there'll be a community karma requirement to create or participate under Political/Current Events submissions. We won't share the threshold for obvious reasons, but it isn't egregious. The main purpose behind it is to prevent bad actors with un-established accounts, or some unwanted visitors from r/all from barging in and behaving in an uncivil manner.

Gaining subreddit karma is as easy as participating. It's easier for us to trust that you wont do harm if you show us.

3. Titles must be neutral

All titles under this umbrella, whether a discussion post or a screenshot of an article must be framed in a neutral manner. Neutality means the title answers simple, factual questions (who, what, where, and when).

Adding subjective adjectives, assigning motives (the why), using loaded language, and/or inserting personal commentary in a post title will violate this rule, leading to a post removal.

Also on the topic of neutrality:

4. Posts referencing a certain event MUST include a relevant and verifiable source

Submissions will need to have a link in the body text or the image caption. This is to do away with unverified instagram screenshots, biased articles, and blatant lies. If referencing something, prove it is real. This also helps users do their own research and come to their own conclusions.

Users often also post events that occurred years ago. While not a "current event", they still typically fall under the umbrella. Providing links to events that occurred at any moment in time, whether current or not, is mandatory. This helps verify legitimacy, and can help inform users on when the issue occurred.

5. Political discussion posts will have a mandatory word count

It's nothing high, it's 100% achievable for those who actually want to discuss. This rule is in place to prevent one sentence rage posts and low effort commentary. Writing a few words does not offer enough context, and does not promote any meaningful discussion.

This only applies to text posts. Posts with an attached image aren't affected, often because the image contains enough context. Obviously don't use images to circumvent the word count.


That's all for now. Lot's of big changes that might take time to get used to. They will be in effect right away, and the flair should be visible to users as of now. Some rules will also be updated to reflect this.

Some parts of this may be changed depending on if it's too effective or not effective enough (karma requirements, word counts, automated vs manual checks). Nothing is ever set in stone, as mentioned at the beginning of this post we don't want to unnecessarily restrict political discussions.

Since this is a big change, feel free to leave any thoughts/critiques down below, or via modmail. Of course, please be reasonable with such comments, thank you!

- r/teenagers mod team


r/teenagers May 03 '25

Mod [mod] REMINDER ABOUT WITCH HUNTING POSTS.

226 Upvotes

With a large influx recently of posts showing weird dms please remember that this is NOT allowed on the subreddit as it is against Reddit TOS to do witch hunting. Posting images of DM conversations will lead to you getting banned, even if the person in your DMS is being weird, its still not allowed. So instead please report weird people in your dms directly to Reddit so they can be banned because we cant do anything about it.

Also as a reminder we aren't doing this to protect the weirdos or because we are defending what they are doing, we are simply just enforcing Reddit TOS.

Have a great day/night!

-r/teenagers mod team


r/teenagers 8h ago

Other It's all fun and games until your parents put your phone in assistive access instead of using screen time 😭✌️

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1.2k Upvotes

r/teenagers 12h ago

Relationship Finally might be getting my groomer arrested

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2.4k Upvotes

So for a little bit of context I was groomed into being in a relationship with an 18 year old (hes 19 now) we were dating for almost 5 months and 2 months ago we broke up because his parents found out, it took some encouragement from my friends to finally report him and I did last month. Today I had got a call from an organization that works with the police and tomorrow someone from the organization and a policeman will be coming to my house to question me about my report I had sent to them.

Hopefully they take action against him :>

EDIT: stop assuming that the only reason I considered it grooming was because of the age gap theres a whole full story behind it and you people who are feeling bad for the son of a bitch is damn right disgusting he is a pedophile regardless stop sympathizing with him. "you could've just stopped talking to him from the start"  yes I did choose to talk to him and I could've chosen to stop. we were friends at first we bonded over a game we both loved but he started being weird with me and because I had absolutely no one at the time no friends and nobody to talk to I didnt want to lose someone who made me feel cared about for once so I just gave in. Pedophiles go after vulnerable people because they are the most easiest to manipulate and groom. Mind you im not his only victims theres more minors out there even ones younger than me.

EDIT: since you guys want the full story so badly and wont leave me alone about it then here you go

Last year around December I posted a comment on a tiktok that said "bmf" (= be my friend) someone messaged me about my comment and it was this guy (lets call him chris) who basically shared all my interests with me which for me back then I was finally happy to get a friend because I had sadly lost all my friends due to petty drama my sister got me into so my mental health was terrible at the time. Me and him bonded pretty quick over a game I really loved we would play together and call and because of how lonely and depressed I was back then it left me in a vulnerable spot. He was the only person at the time who made me feel cared about for once in so long so I didnt want to lose someone like that. He started being weird towards me but I would always excuse it and avoid it. I never liked any of what he would talk to me about, he would talk about his hookup that he had you know all the weird stuff etc. Then he randomly asked me out one night he said over text if I dont date him then he would leave me and expose everything we ever talked about to my family and the internet. I was scared shitless because majority of the stuff we had talked about was very private and personal so I gave in and said yes. I had to put on a fake act everyday to make him forget about him messaging my family. During the relationship he was even weirder he would always ask me for s#xual favors and whenever I said no he would bring up my family. He made me believe he was the only person who loved me and cared about me. Fast forward to around the end of our relationship he broke up with me because his family found out about us, I had finally thought it was over until someone messaged me about him. An ex friend of chris messaged me about him and showed me messages between him and girls younger than me (young as 12) he was in a s*xual relationship with them. I felt disgusted I had a big mental breakdown then she just kept on going on and on about what else she (his ex friend) had found out about him and she came forward to me about about how he had found bad sites and about how he tried to be a father figure to ageplayers (it was weird). a week after that my mum admitted me to therapy and I got the help I needed I started gettign better friends and because of them I had enough courage to report him and today we will see if I will get justice. And also I am in a country where age of consent is higher than the age I am now.

Thats basically the full story leave me alone about it and next time dont assume shit when you dont know shit and thank you to everyone who supported me. sorry for the bad spelling mistakes I just woke up.


r/teenagers 3h ago

Meme I Don't Understand Flat-Earthers. They Literally Cannot Explain This

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407 Upvotes

r/teenagers 8h ago

Discussion I would get something like this if I tried to invent the worst invention possible

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741 Upvotes

Also I am not supporting rape or whatever. I am just saying its logically shit. I can explain a ton of reasons.

Okay so first of all. The most important one. You dont need an vaginal plug to prevent rape. You need a self defense equipment if you feel unsafe.

Second. Rape is not usually just a sexual process. The attacker will probabiy break your head in half after its done. Or before. it would just make the person angrier. I can and will probably count many other reasons

Also considering most rapes are grouped. Or comes from people near you

What I am saying is that you should stay safe. Or keep safed. You dont need a vaginal plastic plug. You need a more secure environment. And More police help.

Rape is not something thats just a unwanted sexual act. its one of the worst things that can happen to you. And you should prevent it at first.


r/teenagers 6h ago

Discussion What do you think about people who vape in public?

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349 Upvotes

Like literally no one wants to smell your disgusting mango passionfruit lung destruction device. Whenever I use the toilets at my school or walk home it reeks of vape smoke. At least smoking cigarettes is kinda conceptually cool and different, whereas when I see people vape I genuinely think its so cringe and lame.


r/teenagers 8h ago

Meme What would you do if she shows up at your house (This subreddit mascot)

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390 Upvotes

r/teenagers 10h ago

Meme Is it just me or what 😭

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496 Upvotes

r/teenagers 2h ago

Discussion Anyone else who doesn't like people calling the rainbow flag the "gay flag"?

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71 Upvotes

r/teenagers 23h ago

Meme DOLPHINS ARE PEOPLE TOO

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3.6k Upvotes

r/teenagers 9h ago

Discussion Hot take - I genuinely hate this sentiment

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214 Upvotes

People wanna act like now is the worst time to live in human history, and that the past was better and the future will be better. Like most of human history was not romantic and heroic, it was significantly more miserable, with a lack of medicine and knowledge making mortality much higher, and life much more painful. There is no guarantee the future will be better, and while it likely will be, being doomer about living in the now is so pointless and stupid. Regardless of the period, all life throughout history has and always will be filled with love, and joy, and beauty that people should revel in, instead of whining about the modern world being "bad" as a whole. I see this idea said seriously and widely agreed upon, despite thinking its complete nonsense. Do you agree with this sentiment and why/why not?


r/teenagers 1h ago

Relationship The "girl" i've been into turned out to be a trans guy

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Upvotes

Então, eu gosto dessa "garota" há quase um ano e estava tentando descobrir se "ela" era lésbica ou pelo menos bissexual. Nós quase começamos a namorar quando "ela" simplesmente me disse, do nada, que é transgênero. Eu não sou bissexual e mesmo assim ele ainda está a fim de mim. Como diabos eu digo para ele que não gosto de homens?

Edit: a very kind person told i got the typo wrong, hes a ftm (female to male)


r/teenagers 5h ago

Advice When things were simple! How can we get back to this?

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94 Upvotes

r/teenagers 3h ago

Other Never forget what they’ve been through

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60 Upvotes

r/teenagers 1h ago

Social I GOT IN MY DREAM UNIVERSITY

Upvotes

I AM SO FUCKING HAPPY AAAAAAAAAAAA I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 2 WHOLE MONTHS FOR THIS MOMENT AND I REALLY STARTED THINKING THAT I WOULDN'T GET IN BUT I DID!!!!!! LESFUCKINGOOOO


r/teenagers 4h ago

Discussion Happy Suicide Awareness Month, everyone.

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53 Upvotes

Everyone should have a healthy mental well-being.


r/teenagers 1d ago

Meme When the rejection accidentally fixes your whole social life

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4.6k Upvotes

r/teenagers 13h ago

Serious I think the propaganda has gone way too far, no one is even criticising such posts.

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247 Upvotes

I saw the comments and 90% of comments were - even the girls are ugly💀
These posts have 100,000+ likes, who exactly are these people? 🥀