Can you lose karma on Reddit?

Yes, you can lose karma on Reddit. Karma can be deducted from your account in the following ways:

1. **Downvotes**: If other users downvote your posts or comments, it results in a deduction of karma. Downvotes indicate that other users found your content unhelpful, irrelevant, or in violation of subreddit rules or Reddiquette.

2. **Rule Violations**: If you violate subreddit rules or Reddit's site-wide policies, moderators may remove your posts or comments, resulting in a deduction of karma. This can occur if your content is deemed spam, offensive, inappropriate, or otherwise in violation of community guidelines.

3. **Negative Feedback**: If your posts or comments receive negative feedback from other users, such as reports or comments expressing disapproval, moderators may take action, leading to a deduction of karma.

4. **Account Restrictions**: In extreme cases, if your account engages in behavior that violates Reddit's policies, such as spamming, harassment, or manipulation, Reddit administrators may take action against your account, including suspensions or bans, which can result in a loss of karma.

It's important to note that while karma serves as a rough measure of your contributions and reputation within the Reddit community, it's not the sole determinant of your value or worth as a user. Karma fluctuations are common, and occasional downvotes or karma deductions are a normal part of participating on the platform. Focus on contributing positively, adhering to community guidelines, and engaging in constructive interactions with other users to build a positive reputation over time.

Yes, you can lose karma on Reddit.

🔻 How Do You Lose Karma?
You lose karma when:

Your posts or comments get downvoted
You delete a post or comment that previously had positive karma
You spam or break subreddit rules (moderators may remove your content, affecting your karma indirectly)
🔍 Two Types of Karma:
Post Karma – earned or lost from upvotes/downvotes on your posts
Comment Karma – earned or lost from upvotes/downvotes on your comments
Each one can go up or down independently.

🚫 You don't lose karma for:
Reading or lurking (you're anonymous until you interact)
Getting your post removed (unless it had upvotes you lose by deleting it)
Having someone disagree — only the votes affect karma, not opinions alone
Bonus Tip:
You can check your karma breakdown on your profile, and while karma has no real-world value, high karma can:

Unlock some Reddit features (like posting in certain subs)
Build trust and credibility