Why r/SideProject removed your post: AutoMod rules decoded
r/SideProject allows builder posts, but link drops, AI-looking copy, reposts, and cold accounts still get filtered fast.
r/SideProject is permissive, which is why removals feel confusing. The community highlights live projects, feedback asks, demos, and "not-AI" project threads. The public rules wiki currently returns "rules does not exist," so operators often assume anything project-shaped is allowed. That is the wrong read. The enforcement surface is less formal than r/SaaS, but the spam pattern is easier to trigger.
Signals runs an aged Reddit account marketplace plus an editorial network for AI brand mentions across Reddit, Quora, Product Hunt, and Threads. We treat r/SideProject as a launch-friendly subreddit with a narrow pass condition: show real work, ask for specific feedback, and avoid anything that looks like a bot-written link drop.
Why does r/SideProject remove posts if self-promotion is allowed?
r/SideProject allows self-promotion when the post is a real builder update. That does not mean every launch pitch belongs there. Current guide pages that track the subreddit all describe the same norm: share what was built, explain why it exists, show the actual product, ask for specific feedback, and stay in the comments. A bare URL, a generic "I built X" paragraph, or a post that exists only to route traffic is still spam-shaped.
The current community page reinforces that norm. Top visible posts are not pure ads; they usually include backstory, technical detail, usage numbers, constraints, or a specific feedback question. A recent community thread about AI slop shows the flip side: regulars are tired of fake builder posts and bot-like comments. If your post sounds optimized for reach instead of feedback, the subreddit may treat it like noise even when the project is real.
Which removal trigger is most likely?
Start with the format, not your intent. r/SideProject removals usually come from a mismatch between "builder showing work" and "marketer pushing traffic." The same app can survive when framed as a build story and fail when framed as a launch announcement. The difference is not cosmetics. It changes whether readers can respond inside Reddit without becoming users, leads, testers, or affiliates.
| Removal trigger | What it usually looks like | Better next move |
|---|---|---|
| Bare link drop | Title plus landing page, no context or screenshot | Explain what was built, why, stack, constraint, and feedback ask |
| Same-project repost | Similar title and link repeated every few days | Wait for a meaningful update before posting again |
| AI-looking copy | Polished generic story, vague metrics, no concrete build detail | Add specific tradeoffs, failed attempts, numbers, and screenshots |
| Feedback bait | "Would you use this?" with no real question | Ask about onboarding, pricing, positioning, or one feature decision |
| Affiliate or referral angle | Bonus, promo code, marketplace database, list sell | Move it elsewhere or remove the commercial incentive |
| Post-and-ghost behavior | Founder never replies after asking for feedback | Reply to every serious comment in the first hour |
| Cold account gate | Instant removal from a thin or low-karma account | Build account history before posting the project |
| Crosspost burst | Same copy across r/SaaS, r/startups, and r/SideProject | Rewrite per subreddit and stagger posts over days |
What hidden account filters still apply?
A permissive subreddit can still use Reddit's account gates. Reddit's Poster Eligibility Guide says communities can derive posting eligibility from AutoMod and evaluate account age, karma, subreddit karma, verified email, and approved-contributor status. It also says exact thresholds are not always disclosed. That matches recent user reports from adjacent side-project posting attempts: posts can vanish with a generic "removed by Reddit's filters" message even when no public rule explains the removal.
Contributor Quality Score is the other account layer. Reddit classifies accounts from Lowest to Highest based on prior actions, network and location signals, and security signals. Moderators can reference that tier in AutoMod. For r/SideProject, the practical threshold is lower than r/marketing or r/Entrepreneur, but "lower" is not "none." A fresh account with one launch post, no comment history, and a commercial link still looks like a bot. A 7-to-14-day account with normal comments, verified email, and a few useful replies in builder communities behaves differently.
How should you diagnose the removal?
Separate three layers before rewriting: Reddit's sitewide filter, subreddit AutoMod, and human moderation. First, open the post in a logged-out browser. If it is gone publicly but visible to you, run the AutoModerator no-reason decoder and inspect removed_by_category. reddit points to the sitewide spam filter. automod_removed or automod_filtered points to subreddit automation. moderator means a human took action.
Then audit the post against r/SideProject norms. Did it show a working demo or only a landing page? Did it explain the build or only the benefit? Did it ask a specific question? Did you reply to early comments? Finally, audit the account: age, karma, verified email, CQS risk, link history, and same-day crossposts. Use the account age minimums reference to set the floor, then raise the bar if the project has a commercial link.
Check logged-out visibility. Confirm whether the post is removed, filtered, or simply not ranking.
Read the removal layer. Use the .json endpoint before guessing at a rule.
Score the format. Look for a bare link, weak story, vague feedback ask, repost, or AI cadence.
Audit the account. Check age, karma, verified email, local comments, and crosspost history.
What should you post instead?
The safest r/SideProject post shows evidence of building. A strong version has five pieces: what you built, why you built it, the specific obstacle that shaped the product, what is working or broken now, and the feedback decision you want help with. Screenshots, demos, numbers, and mistakes are better than polished launch copy because they prove there is a builder behind the post.
For example, "I built a habit tracker for ADHD users" is weak. "I built an ADHD habit tracker because streak apps made me quit after misses. The hard part was recovery states, not reminders. The current onboarding loses 38% of users at step three. Would you show the missed-day reset before or after the first habit?" is much stronger. The broader pre-launch Reddit warmup protocol uses the same principle: earn permission before the launch moment, then post the artifact as a conversation starter, not an ad.
When should you appeal or repost?
Appeal only when the post was a real builder update and the removal looks like a false positive. If the .json field says reddit, local modmail probably will not help because Reddit's sitewide filter removed it. If the field says automod_filtered, one short modmail can work: include the post URL, say it is a side-project feedback post, and ask whether the issue is account age, link format, or wording. Do not ask moderators to disclose thresholds.
Repost only after changing the post class. If the original was a landing-page pitch, rewrite it as a build story. If it was a generic feedback ask, narrow the question. If the account was cold, spend one to two weeks commenting before trying again. The full Reddit marketing guide covers subreddit fit, but the r/SideProject rule of thumb is simpler: the project can be commercial, but the post has to be useful before anyone clicks.
Frequently asked questions
Why did r/SideProject remove my post?
The most likely causes are a bare link drop, repeated project repost, AI-looking copy, weak feedback framing, affiliate-style offer, cold account, or Reddit's sitewide spam filter.
Does r/SideProject allow self-promotion?
Yes, when it is real project sharing. The post should show what was built, explain the builder context, and ask for specific feedback. Pure launch announcements and traffic grabs are higher risk.
Does r/SideProject have public rules?
The public rules wiki currently returns "rules does not exist." That does not mean there are no filters. Operators should read current top posts, community highlights, and Reddit's account-gate behavior before posting.
How much karma do I need for r/SideProject?
There is no reliable public number. Treat 7-14 days, verified email, 10-50 karma, and a small amount of relevant comment history as the practical floor for low-risk project posts.
Can I repost if my r/SideProject post was removed?
Not with the same title, link, and body. Reposting unchanged looks like spam. Rewrite the post around a real update or wait until the project has something materially new.
Should I post in r/SideProject before r/SaaS?
Usually yes for early products. r/SideProject is more tolerant of project sharing, while r/SaaS is stricter about self-promotion. Still rewrite the post per subreddit instead of crossposting the same launch copy.
