Reddit Harassing Chat Message: Report, Block, What to Do

A stranger on Reddit sends you a chat request, and the first message is abusive. Or someone you argued with in a thread follows you into chat and keeps going. You want it to stop, and you are not sure whether to ignore it, block first or report first.

The order matters, and Reddit's own pages say so. This guide follows two Reddit Help pages and three related ones, and it keeps to what they say. We cannot promise that Reddit will act on a report, and nobody outside Reddit can make it. A rushed step, such as tapping Ignore or replying in anger, can make things worse, so know what you are doing before you start.

Last checked: 27 October 2026.

#Report First, Then Block

Reddit's How do I report a chat message? page says reporting a specific chat message is the best way to let Reddit know about a chat you think may be a violation of the Reddit Rules. It adds a warning: if you receive a chat request with a message you would like to report, do not select Ignore, because that makes the message go away. Instead, follow the directions for your device.

The What should I do if I’m being harassed? page says harassing, bullying, intimidating or abusing an individual or group of people, with the result of discouraging them from participating in Reddit and its communities, is against the rule against harassment in Reddit's sitewide rules. It says that if someone is harassing you or someone else, reporting the specific post, comment or chat message is the best way to let Reddit know. If you would also like to cut off contact from the accounts you reported, you can block them.

#What to Do Step by Step

1. Do not tap Ignore on the chat request, and do not delete the chat. Reddit's page says Ignore makes the message go away.
2. Take a screenshot of the abusive message, with the username and the date visible, before you do anything else. Reddit's pages do not require this, but it is plain logic: it keeps your own record in case the content changes.
3. Report the specific message that breaks the rules, using the steps for your device in the table.
4. Block the account if you want to cut off contact. Reddit says you can do this from the profile or from your settings.
5. Turn off all chat requests if the messages keep coming from different accounts. Reddit says this is in your Social interactions setting, and on the mobile app under Chat permissions in Safety, found in your account settings.

For how to save proof properly, see our guide on collecting evidence before reporting harassment.

#Reporting a Message, a Post or a Profile

Reddit's How do I report a Reddit user? page says you can report specific posts, comments, messages or a user's profile, such as the username, display name, profile image, banner and account bio. It says that when you report specific content, the person who submitted it, the community it comes from and other users who may have interacted with it are all part of the report under review. When you report a user's profile, the reported content is reviewed along with any provided context.

To report a profile on iOS, Android or reddit.com, go to the user page, tap or click the overflow menu, and select Report Profile. You then choose what you want to report, which can be the username, display name, avatar or profile image, banner image or account bio, and what rule it is breaking, and select submit. A profile report fits when the profile itself is abusive. If the abuse is in a chat, report the chat message.

For a post or comment, Reddit's How do I report a post or comment? page says reporting the specific post or comment is the best way to let Reddit know about something that may violate the Reddit Rules or a community's rules. You tap or click the overflow menu and select Report.

#What About Private Messages?

The report page for users also covers private messages, which are different from chat. It says to open your message inbox, open the message, tap the overflow menu next to it on iOS and Android and select Report, or click Report underneath the message on reddit.com. It says that once you submit the report, the message will be deleted from your inbox. So take your screenshot first. The page says you can block the account, or turn off all private messages from your Social interactions setting.

#How to Block Someone on Reddit

Reddit's How do I block someone? page says you can block someone from their profile or from your user settings. On reddit.com, visit their profile, click the overflow menu in the profile card on the right and select Block Account. On iOS and Android, visit the profile, tap the overflow menu at the top right and select Block account. On old.reddit.com, select Block user under chat in the right sidebar.

From your settings on reddit.com, visit Privacy settings, click Block accounts under the Social interactions section, type the username, click the add icon and save. On iOS and Android, go to your settings, tap your username, tap Manage blocked accounts under Safety, search for the username and tap Block.

The page makes one more point. It says blocking can be used to stop seeing the content someone shares, but if the person you are blocking has also broken the rules against harassment, threatening violence, hate or anything else in the Reddit Rules, Reddit also asks that you report them. So block and report go together.

#If You Feel Unsafe

Reddit's pages say responding to harassment can be difficult, and may be triggering in ways you did not expect. They point to a crisis text service and other support resources in your area. We do not repeat contact numbers here, because they depend on where you live, so read the support options for your country on the Reddit pages.

If someone threatens you or tries to find where you live, keep your screenshots, report and block, and think about a police report. Our guide on making a police report for online harassment in Malaysia explains what to bring. If the person is pretending to be you, see Reddit account impersonating you.

#What the Pages Do Not Say

The pages we read do not say how long Reddit takes to review a report, or what action follows. They do not say whether the reported person is told who reported them, so we do not claim either way. They do not describe an appeal for a report that finds no violation, and they do not explain what Reddit looks at beyond the Reddit Rules. We do not know your outcome and will not guess.

#When It Is Safer to Get Expert Help

Some people handle this alone, and the official steps stay first. The risks are plain. Tapping Ignore before reporting can remove the message you needed. Replying in anger can give the other person something to report back. Deleting the chat can remove your own proof. Reporting a different post from the one that crosses the line can weaken the case. And a person who offers to get the account banned in return for your login is a risk to expect.

If the harassment is serious, comes from several accounts, or has spread to other platforms, handing the case to an experienced team such as AwareXone is the safer choice. We can help you organise your evidence, choose the right official route and avoid mistakes that make things harder. See our social media problem solutions page, and use the Apply for Case Review button at the end of this guide.

#When a Case Review Makes Sense

If the messages continue after you report and block, or you are getting abuse from new accounts, a review can help you plan. SocialSafe by AwareXone is a Malaysia-based service, independent of Reddit, that helps you use the official routes. We never ask for your password or login codes, and we cannot make Reddit act. See how we work on our trust page.

#Frequently Asked Questions