New User Content Visibility: Unpacking Filters, Promotion, and Community Guidelines

Navigating content visibility and community guidelines can be tricky for new contributors. A recent discussion highlighted several key insights into how new user submissions are handled and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Understanding Content Visibility

One of the most common experiences for new accounts is having submissions silently filtered, especially when karma is low. This isn't always a sign of malicious filtering but rather a default state where content has reduced visibility until it receives a 'vouch' from an established community member. This system helps manage the flow of new content and prevents spam. The good news is that such content can reappear if someone vouches for it.

Navigating Self-Promotion

The community generally allows users to post their own work, but it's crucial not to use the platform primarily for promotion. While the exact threshold isn't always clear, a pattern of predominantly self-referential links, especially for a new account, can lead to content being flagged by users or automatically filtered. The key is to maintain a balance, ensuring that the primary use of the site is driven by curiosity and engagement with a broader range of topics, not just personal projects.

When to Use 'Show' Tags

The 'Show' tag is a specific designation for posts that involve something interactive, such as software, a tool one can try in a browser, or a video demonstrating a user experience. It's not intended for general long-form articles, blog posts, or purely descriptive pieces, even if they involve visual concepts. Misusing this tag can lead to a submission being less effective or not appearing as intended. Always check the specific guidelines for such tags to ensure appropriate usage.

General Guideline Awareness

Beyond content type and self-promotion, it's also important to be aware of general community guidelines. For instance, using the main discussion feed to ask administrative questions about the platform's mechanics (like why a post disappeared) is often discouraged. Such inquiries are usually directed to a specific email contact for direct support. Familiarizing oneself with the full set of guidelines is highly recommended to foster a positive contributing experience.

In summary, new contributors should be mindful of initial content visibility challenges, exercise moderation in self-promotion, use specific content tags like 'Show' appropriately, and direct administrative queries through official channels.