Blur faces before posting on Reddit
Reddit runs on pseudonyms. Many people post there because nobody knows who they are. One unblurred photo can undo that: a face, a street, a username in a screenshot. Here’s how to keep your account and the people in your posts anonymous.
By the BlurTap team · Updated
What Reddit’s rules say
Reddit’s content policy asks users to respect the privacy of others. Posting someone’s personal or confidential information to harass or expose them is not allowed, and neither is sharing intimate images without consent. Individual subreddits add their own rules on top, often stricter ones about personal information in images. Blurring identifying details is how most people comply.
Protecting other people
- Faces in “look at this person” posts. Photos of strangers in public, of a bad driver, or of a rude customer can turn into a pile-on. Blur the face and anything else that identifies them, including the plate and their workplace uniform.
- Usernames and names in screenshots. Group chats, dating app messages, comment threads and social media posts. Blur names, profile photos and handles, including your own.
- Friends and family in photos you post to hobby, pet or travel subreddits.
Protecting yourself
Redditors are good at geolocating photos. Communities exist to find the exact spot a picture was taken from a single landmark. Before posting from a personal account, check for:
- Your face, including in mirrors, sunglasses, windows and dark screens.
- The view from your window: distinctive buildings, mountains, signs and storefronts.
- Street-level details: house numbers, street signs, bus stop numbers.
- Vehicles: your plate, a parking permit, a dealer frame.
- Paperwork: letters, prescriptions, school or work badges, a laptop with your email open.
- Your other accounts: a notification or browser tab that shows another username.
Screenshots: what to blur
| Screenshot of | Blur |
|---|---|
| Text messages | Contact name, profile photo, phone number, and names mentioned in messages |
| Social media posts | Display name, handle, profile photo, tagged names, location tags |
| Dating apps | Name, photos, job, school, and anything in the bio that identifies them |
| Emails | Addresses, signatures, phone numbers, company names |
| Your own screen | Status bar carrier name, other notifications, your username if posting from a throwaway |
A strong blur or solid cover is safer than light pixelation on text. Short words and names in standard fonts can sometimes be reconstructed from small pixel blocks.
Workflow
- Take or select the photos and screenshots.
- Blur faces, text and plates with BlurTap, which also strips location. For a one-off photo on a computer, use the free face blur tool.
- Zoom in once more on reflections and the background, then post.
Posting the same photo elsewhere? See the main pre-posting checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Does Reddit remove location data from my photos?
Images uploaded directly to Reddit generally have their EXIF metadata, including GPS, stripped. Images you link from other hosts may not. Either way, remove location yourself before uploading, and check the picture for visual clues. Those are what usually give people away.
Do I have to blur usernames in screenshots on Reddit?
It depends on the subreddit. Many communities that collect screenshots of texts, social media posts or online arguments require names and usernames to be removed, and will delete posts that don’t. Check the sidebar rules before posting.
Can I delete a post if I realize I forgot to blur something?
Delete it right away, but assume it may have been seen or saved. Reddit content is often scraped and archived by third-party sites within minutes. That’s why it pays to check before posting, not after.