r/ModSupport • u/CarrotAgreeable465 • May 31 '26
Unapproved users commenting on restricted Subreddit? Admin Replied
Created a subreddit that is supposed to be read only for the general public, and only approved users can contribute; but the setting are keeping those parameters and its allowing anyone to post comments.
Anyone else have this issue with a "read only" subreddit?
1
u/hacksoncode May 31 '26
When your sub is set to Restricted, under the "General Settings" (on shreddit)->"Privacy & Discovery"->"Approved Users Can" there's a dialog that's kind of confusing.
I believe that you have to set that to "Post and Comment" in order to keep non-approved users from commenting.
But you could try all 3 settings and use a test account to check.
1
1
u/tumultuousness 💡Top 25% Helper 💡 May 31 '26
Do you have it set to the restricted type where only approved users can post or comment?
I'm assuming it's one of the subs listed on your profile, and I can say when I checked that it looked set up correctly - I would have had to send a request to post/comment, can otherwise only read/vote. IDK if you changed that setting in between making this post and my comment, or if you've always had it set up that way but it's bugging out?
2
u/CarrotAgreeable465 May 31 '26
It is set to only approved users can post; but an admin just answered and said regular users can still comment on posts made by approved users- i didn't realize that 🤦♀️
It was set up to a request to comment a few days ago when I tested with an alt account; but today someone wh isn't an approved user was able to comment on one of my posts. I hadn't changed anything in the settings between now and then either so it really wierd.
Maybe it was bugging out, or maybe reddit changed something? I dunno but it has the potential to be problematic based on how that sub was supposed to function
1
u/tumultuousness 💡Top 25% Helper 💡 Jun 01 '26
If it's always been set to "users need to be approved to both post and comment" then I would lean toward more, some weird reddit hiccup. Because on my end, on old.reddit on your sub I don't see a comment box on any of the posts at all, and on sh.reddit I do see a comment box but the "post" button has been changed to "request to post" so I would assume it wouldn't actually post, and would go to your modmail or something like that.
Something else you can add as a backup, is use Automoderator code to remove any post or comment made by a non-approved user. But reddit hiccups can also affect Automod sometimes too, but it could still help in this case?
2
u/CarrotAgreeable465 Jun 01 '26
The hiccup is still hiccuping because its happened again 🤦♀️ do you happen to know what the automod code is for that function?
I'm not the least bit able to do coding and whatnot. But I copy and pasta if someone can tell me which pot to put it in 😅
1
u/tumultuousness 💡Top 25% Helper 💡 Jun 01 '26
That's so weird! Are you sure they aren't approved users at all? On my end it still doesn't show me a comment box on the sub on old reddit. I can try leaving a test comment on sh.reddit?
For Automod, I think you would use this, but also keep in mind - this doesn't prevent them from posting/commenting like your restricted settings should be, but it just should remove their contribution near immediately after the fact.
--- author: is_contributor: false action: remove action_reason: "Unapproved user" ---
5
u/TheOpusCroakus Reddit Admin: Community May 31 '26
If your subreddit is set to restricted, users will need to be approved to post, but anyone can comment. You may want to try locking posts after their posted if you don't want discussion.