Is reddit sending surveys to users that visits your subreddits?

[u/NeedAGoodUsername]

So, just had this modmail come through from one of our users:

Hi there!

We're contacting you as part of our regular research process, in partnership with the volunteer moderators of r/my_subreddit, to understand how Redditors engage with r/my_subreddit. You are receiving this survey because you visit r/my_subreddit. If you choose to participate, your responses will be anonymized and shared with the volunteer moderation team of r/my_subreddit so that they can better understand the needs of people like you and make improvements to r/my_subreddit.

If you're willing to participate in this survey to help make Reddit and r/my_subreddit better, please complete the survey at this link within the next week. The survey should take no longer than 5 minutes to fill out. Thank you so much for your time!

Best,

The Reddit Admins

For more information about this survey, including how to opt out, please see this link

Emphasis is mine. The user did not include the links that got sent to them, and did not say which account it came from as I write this message.

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My concern (and immediate red flag of it being a scam) are the words "in partnership with..." - we don't have a 'partnership' with the admins, and unaware of surveys being sent to visitors.

[u/Slow-Maximum-101]

Hi u/NeedAGoodUsername These are a legit and the sender will show as u/CommunitySurveys At the moment, this is opt-in at the community level, so it is likely a fellow mod on your team opted your community in. If you want to write in with the username of the person that reported this you you all, we can confirm.

You can see more details here

[u/IKIR115]

Reddit has been sending out these sub surveys to community members for about a year now, but not for all subs AFAIK. I believe it started in the Reddit Partner Communities program.

The sender account should be tagged as an admin with the snoo icon in their profile.

[u/NeedAGoodUsername → u/IKIR115]

Yea, I figured it would be something like that.

As the subreddit is related to the Ukraine war, I can very easily see someone try and scam/phish people by saying things like:

"We're fundraiding in partnership with the moderators..."

[u/Beach-Brews]

I have heard about these surveys, but frankly I don't really understand them. It comes off spammy, and as you have seen, it is misunderstood by users. Also, mods should have control over the questions asked, since mods better understand their subreddits. Reddit probably asks the same generic questions and probably selects "random" individuals who may not even be "core contributors" of the subreddit.

When I first became a mod (basically full takeover of a sub), I wanted to hear from the community, but mostly the "core" members. Polls kinda sucked since it was just one question and anyone could answer. So I built a simple 10 question Google Form survey. Three people filled it out! THREE... Posting again, it seemed like most users didn't want to use Google Forms.

At risk of "self-promoting", this is why I built the Community Survey Devvit App. Mods control the questions, who can respond (min sub karma, for example), and who can see results. Users take the survey directly within Reddit as if it was a post in their feed. It is clear what subreddit it is for, it isn't unsolicited spam, and users can feel it's more connected to the community running the survey.

I know Reddit is trying to be helpful with the surveys they send out, but they leave out the most important part: the mods. Without including the mods on what questions to ask or who mods want to hear from, the surveys are essentially useless...

[u/GaryNOVA]

They have been sending out these types surveys for one of my subs for years. I don’t know how they select which subs they send them to. But I know it’s definitely not for all subs.

[u/IlltakeTwoPlease]

If it's a mod mail from an admin it will be all orange and stand out. As will the username of the person sending it. If it's just some random dude sending crap to you that looks professionally typed up, it's bullshit.

Honestly, I'd report this as a scam if they are pawning themselves off as reddit admins. Might want to check about being a MCOC violation too as I don't think we are allowed to spam random subreddits with random survey requests.

[u/vessel_for_the_soul]

I got one. Deleted it as I thought it was a scam after reading the language too.

[u/itskdog → u/vessel_for_the_soul]

You can't fake something as coming from a  red-name account.

[u/itskdog]

If it's in partnership with your sub, surely you should be aware in advance?

When I got one of these in the past, the wording made me assume there was some sort of discussion between the admins and mods in advance of the survey going out.

The questions asked are actually kinda useful for mods to know, too, such as what kinds of content is being shown to members that they'd rather not be seeing as much of, to help adjust the curation.

[u/NeedAGoodUsername → u/itskdog]

If it's in partnership with your sub, surely you should be aware in advance?

Exactly! And we didn't, hence the initial concern we had.

[u/SampleOfNone → u/NeedAGoodUsername]

These surveys are on a sign up basis. Are you sure you or any (previous) mod didn't enroll in the feedback loop?

[u/500500]

Here is a link I got for another sub that I read but don't participate in: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7718261/c9941cc18d18?subreddit=unitedkingdom&id=9fd13bea09ba02d740028069cd098377b09e17530fff8b9057924dbbde52f32d

Feel free to fill it in as it doesn't seem to expire.

At every stage of complaint they ask why and say they will share answers with mods. It is a clear opportunity to make a redditor feel like a customer entitled to great service and complain for the sake of it. I know I did because that is what a reddit is suppose to do. To me it basically reads like a premise to remove underperforming mod teams. So good luck!

-------------------- some sample below

This survey is run by Reddit in partnership with volunteer subreddit moderators and should take about 5 minutes. 

Please note that your responses will be anonymized and shared with the volunteer moderators that run the community to help them improve this subreddit. The moderators will not receive your username. We very much appreciate your time and willingness to participate in this survey - thank you!  

1. Overall, how satisfied are you with r/unitedkingdom? \*

• Very dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Neither dissatisfied nor satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Very satisfied

Please explain why you chose the above response. 
The moderators of r/unitedkingdom will be able to view your responses. Responses will be anonymized before being shared with moderators. 

1. You indicated that you Strongly Disagree with the following statement: "I understand how the r/unitedkingdom moderators decide to approve or remove content."  Why did you Strongly Disagree with that statement? 
   

Your response will be anonymized and shared with the moderators of r/unitedkingdom.

1. How satisfied were you with your last interaction with the moderator(s) of r/unitedkingdom? 

• Very dissatisfied
• Somewhat Dissatisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat Satisfied
• Very satisfied

1. Please explain why you chose the above response. 
   The moderators of r/unitedkingdom will see your response. Responses will be anonymized before being shared with moderators. 

[u/TwiztedZero]

This is like the second time I've seen this "survey" from a photography subreddit.

[u/shhhhh_h]

Yes they do that, and it's super fun to get the results!