Talkshubh

Knowledge Base entry

How can you check whether an image, meme, or story has been posted before?

A practical answer page built from the knowledge base source.

FAQ Imported article

Several tools and methods are available for checking whether content has circulated on Reddit previously. The most targeted tool is the u/repostsleuthbot, a Reddit bot you can summon in the comments of your post by mentioning its username. The bot scans Reddit's image database and returns a report indicating whether a visually similar image has been posted before, how many times, and where. It is not perfect — it can be confused by minor edits, crops, or resolution changes — but it catches the most obvious reposts. Karma Decay (karmaDecay.com) is an external reverse image search tool specifically trained on Reddit content. Uploading or pasting the image URL there will show past Reddit submissions of the same or visually similar image. Google's reverse image search (images.google.com) is another option and useful for detecting whether an image originated outside of Reddit entirely, including whether it was taken from a photographer's website, a stock image library, or another platform. For text content — personal stories, anecdotes, or essay-style posts — the most practical method is using Reddit's built-in search function in the destination subreddit, searching for distinctive phrases from your post. If a nearly identical story appears in the results, you are about to repost. Some communities where text content is frequently recycled (common in advice subreddits) have developed informal archives or wikis documenting frequently recurring posts, which moderators may consult when evaluating submissions. For news links, checking the community's search results for the article's headline or source domain will reveal whether it has been submitted recently. Many communities have AutoModerator rules that automatically reject or flag a link that has been posted within a defined recent window, so your post being removed is itself a signal that a repost check would have been useful. Building the habit of searching before posting takes seconds and prevents significant friction.

More to read

How do polls work, and when is it better to use a poll instead of open questions? How do you attach flairs to posts where required? What happens when you hit submit and your post enters the mod queue? Why might a post be held for manual moderator review? What are common reasons AutoModerator removes posts automatically? How do you know whether your post was removed and why? How can you appeal or ask for clarification on a removal politely? How do crossposts work, and when is crossposting appropriate? How is a crosspost different from copying and pasting content into multiple communities? What is considered a "repost," and why do communities often hate reposts? How do you properly credit the source when sharing external content? How do you create original content (OC) that stands out in a busy feed? How do time zones and posting time affect visibility and engagement? How do you monitor your post's performance after publishing? How should you respond when your post unexpectedly "blows up"? How do you edit a post after publishing, and what are good edit practices? When should you avoid editing a post (e.g., to change the story after feedback)? How do you mark a post as "Resolved" or add an "Update" for closure? How do you safely tell personal stories without doxxing yourself or others? Module 6 — Commenting, conversation, and conflict