Facebook vs Reddit
Side-by-side comparison of the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy of Facebook and Reddit.
The service offers some meaningful privacy controls and does not sell personal data, but it collects and shares a lot of information, heavily personalizes ads, and gives itself broad moderation, licensing, and retention powers. Overall it is not unusually hostile, but users should expect significant data use and limited control over public content.
Facebook’s legal terms are fairly detailed and give Meta broad rights to host, use, and promote content and ads, while also reserving strong enforcement powers over accounts and content. The documents include some user-friendly elements like advance notice for material terms changes, no sale of personal data to advertisers, deletion and portability tools, and consumer-court language for some disputes. However, data collection is extensive, public content can spread widely, and deletion may take up to 90 days plus backup retention.
Points of interest
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negative ●●●●● privacyExtensive data collection
Meta collects information you provide, your activity, devices, contacts, and data from partners and third parties. In practice, this means Facebook can build a very detailed profile even from activity outside the app.
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negative ●●●●○ privacyPartner tracking via pixels
The policy says Meta receives information through cookies, pixels, and similar technologies from other websites and apps. This can connect your off-Facebook browsing and app activity back to your account or ad profile.
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negative ●●●●○ privacyPublic content spreads widely
Some information is public by default, and public content can be viewed, reshared, downloaded, and even appear off Meta. Users should assume public posts may travel far beyond Facebook.
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negative ●●●●○ termsBroad content license
By posting content, you grant Meta a worldwide, sublicensable license to use, modify, distribute, and create derivatives. That gives Meta wide operational freedom to reuse what you upload while it remains on its systems.
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negative ●●●●○ termsDeletion can take months
Account or content deletion can take up to 90 days, plus another 90 days to remove copies from backups and disaster recovery systems. Some content can also be retained longer for legal, safety, or technical reasons.
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positive ●●●●○ termsNo data sales to advertisers
Meta states it does not sell your personal data to advertisers and does not share directly identifying information without permission. That is better than a true data-selling model, though it still uses your data for ad targeting.
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positive ●●●●○ privacyDeletion tools available
You can delete individual content, delete your account, and trash items begin a deletion process automatically after 30 days. The policy also says deleted items are removed from visibility while deletion is pending.
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negative ●●●○○ termsHeavy ad personalization
Facebook uses your personal data to show personalized ads and sponsored content, including across Meta products and sometimes off-platform. Even though Meta says it does not sell your personal data, your activity is still used for targeted advertising.
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negative ●●●○○ termsStrong account enforcement
Meta can remove content, restrict features, suspend, disable, or delete accounts for serious or repeated violations, often in its discretion. Some review explanations may be withheld for safety, legal, or technical reasons.
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positive ●●●○○ privacyData portability supported
Meta says you can download your information and, in some cases and subject to law, port it. This gives users at least some ability to take their data elsewhere.
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positive ●●●○○ termsConsumer courts preserved
For consumers, disputes are governed by the law of your country and may be brought in competent local courts. That is more user-friendly than forcing all users into a distant arbitration forum.
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positive ●●○○○ termsAdvance notice of changes
Meta says it will notify users at least 30 days before material Terms changes, unless the change is required by law. That gives users a chance to review updates before they take effect.
Documents
Reddit has some user-friendly privacy features and formal rights requests, but its Terms are highly platform-favorable, especially around content licensing, moderation discretion, and liability limits.
Reddit’s legal terms are fairly standard for a large social platform: you can browse with little upfront data, accounts are optional for some use, and the privacy policy offers access, deletion, correction, and portability rights in several regions. On the other hand, Reddit’s Terms are broad on content licensing, moderation, liability limits, and service changes, while the privacy policy makes clear that much of the platform is public and advertising/personalization are central to the service.
Points of interest
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negative ●●●●● termsBroad content license
Anything you post can be used by Reddit worldwide, forever, and sublicensed to others, including for AI training. You keep ownership, but you give up control over how the content is reused.
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negative ●●●●○ termsHeavy moderation discretion
Reddit can remove content, deny monetization, or revoke moderation privileges at its sole discretion, and even overturn moderator actions. Users and moderators have limited practical control over enforcement decisions.
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negative ●●●●○ termsService can change anytime
Reddit reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the service at any time, with or without notice. That means features can disappear or change abruptly without compensation.
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negative ●●●●○ termsBroad liability limits
The Terms disclaim most warranties and cap liability at the greater of $100 or what you paid in the prior six months. If something goes wrong, recovery from Reddit is likely limited.
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positive ●●●●○ privacyMinimal info by default
Reddit says it collects minimal identifying information by default and lets people browse without creating an account or using their real name. That lowers the friction and privacy cost of casual use.
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positive ●●●●○ privacyNo personal data sales
Reddit states it does not sell personal data to third parties, including data brokers. That is a meaningful privacy protection, though it still shares data for ads and other purposes.
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positive ●●●●○ privacyDeletion and access rights
Users can request access to their data, correction, deletion/account deletion, and related rights, subject to verification. This gives users a formal path to inspect and remove some of their information.
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negative ●●●○○ termsIndemnity obligation
You must defend and indemnify Reddit for claims tied to your use, your violations, or your content. Practically, that can shift legal costs to users in disputes involving their own activity.
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positive ●●●○○ privacyData portability in some regions
The policy explicitly gives EEA, Swiss, UK, and Brazilian users data portability rights in certain circumstances. That can make it easier to move or reuse personal data elsewhere.
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neutral ●●○○○ privacyPublic by design
Reddit emphasizes that posts, comments, usernames, and profile details are public and may appear in search engines or be reshared. This is not a hidden data practice, but it is important because many users may underestimate the visibility of their activity.
Documents
Comparison is based on each service's published Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Read the source documents linked above before relying on any specific clause.