How do you check whether a community has strict posting requirements (flair, karma, account age)?

Checking a community's posting requirements before attempting to submit is straightforward if you know where to look. The most direct source is the community's About or Rules section, typically accessible from the community page via a button or link labeled "About," "Rules," or "See more" depending on the platform. On desktop, rules are often displayed in the sidebar on the right side of the community page. On mobile, they require tapping through to the About section because the mobile layout does not show a persistent sidebar. Reddit's AutoModerator system is what actually enforces posting requirements, and communities that use it to screen new accounts typically describe their requirements in the rules. Phrases like "accounts must be at least 30 days old," "minimum 100 karma required to post," or "you must select a flair before posting" signal explicit barriers that are automatically enforced. If your post is removed immediately after submission with an AutoModerator message, the message itself will usually state the exact requirement you failed to meet. According to r/NewToReddit guidance, most communities with minimum requirements do not publicize the exact thresholds because bots and spammers use that information to circumvent them. This means absence of stated requirements in the rules does not guarantee there are none — you may only discover hidden AutoModerator thresholds by attempting to post and receiving a rejection message. The practical workaround is to start by commenting rather than posting (since commenting requirements are usually lower than posting requirements), build karma gradually in open communities, and return to more restricted communities once your account age and karma exceed the typical thresholds. Visiting r/whatismyCQS can also reveal your Community Quality Score, which some communities use as an access metric. One practical strategy when trying to post in a restricted community is to send the moderators a modmail message explaining your situation — many moderator teams will manually approve an account that cannot pass AutoModerator's automated checks if the person communicates clearly and demonstrates genuine interest in the community. Moderators set karma and age requirements primarily to block bots and spammers, not to exclude real people, so a polite direct request often resolves the situation.