OC Updated: Reddit is quietly restoring deleted AND overwritten posts and comments

Another update and possibly a solution for some case where posts were not properly deleted. Seems I jumped the gun on this and the restores haven't been intentional - at least not in this particular case.

There is a limitation in the popular Powerdelete that apparently prevents mass editing. Here is a link to a new version with a build-in delay and some other alternatives:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/145fico/comment/jnl4xmr/

There are other reported cases where manually deleted post reappeared or other scripts have been used, so this doesn't solve all issues but explains how posts that were both edited and deleted withPowerdelete weren't properly deleted and reappeared after subs went back live.

Update: As some have pointed out: the restores can be rollbacks from the server issues or post haven't been properly deleted due to subs being private during blackouts. Many have experienced the same issue, I can't explain how this happens. I'll just run the script again, try the GDPR request and delete my account.

Also worth noting: according to the ToS Reddit can actually do whatever they want with existing content, apparently we agreed to this when signing up.

starlinguk,
starlinguk avatar

So... They've basically just admitted that deleting your posts is bad for Reddit.

Keep going, guys.

And spezi (as we lovingly refer to you in our household), expect lawyers.

Spezi,

I don't want to be mixed up with spez :-(

puck2,

I deleted some of mine but we're taking 12++ years of posts

omenmis,

Spezi did nothing wrong, don't slander my favorite soda over some asshat

someguy3,

While there's some value in old threads, the real value is in new ones. Deleting old comments won't amount to much.

parrot-party,
parrot-party avatar

I regularly find old threads when Google searching. There is absolutely value in old comments.

namastex,
namastex avatar

💯

Most people who use reddit or have used reddit tend to Google everything by putting "Reddit" somewhere in their searches now.

overzeetop,
@overzeetop@lemmy.world avatar

I'd be willing to bet a lot of traffic is driven to Reddit via Google queries (Lord knows that Reddit's own search engine can't find shit). Removing data will reduce hits or, if Google doesn't update their cached database, will result in people avoiding reddit because every time they go there it's just deleted comments.

someguy3,

I think most (not all) is the normal lurkers browsing all.

lusterko,

I only started using reddit because I was finding lots of useful old threads through Google/ddg

NecoArcKbinAccount,
NecoArcKbinAccount avatar

wait if the account is deleted can they still restore the comments?

dan,
@dan@upvote.au avatar

When an account is deleted, all the comments still exist, the author's name just changes to "[deleted]". You'd need to use a third-party tool that deletes all the comments individually, or potentially send them a GDPR or CCPA "right to be forgotten" request (although I'm unsure as to if this actually deletes the comments).

entropie,

https://www.unddit.com/

Not sure if still possible, but this was a way to show deleted reddit comments

dan,
@dan@upvote.au avatar

Sites like this will likely die off once they make the API cost money, since they all work by calling the API and getting a list of all the newest comments.

NecoArcKbinAccount,
NecoArcKbinAccount avatar

I had done that, but now I'm concerned they'll somehow pull the comments up even though the account is removed

balance_sheet,

That's why before you purge your account, you rewrite(edit) the comments with something like Lorem Ipsum.

OmnipotentEntity,
@OmnipotentEntity@beehaw.org avatar

In practice, it's hard to know exactly how Reddit structures the data they have and what exactly a delete actually does and what backups they have.

That being said, it's not out of the question that you could delete your post history, then your account, and reddit only restores your post history and not your account, leaving you unable to delete it again.

TWeaK,

Hijacking the top comment to say: PowerDeleteSuite doesn't get everything. It can only see what's in your reddit profile under New, Top, Hot & Controversial - there will be numerous posts that are too old with only 1 or a few karma that aren't displayed in these lists. In particular, if you go through your top posts of all time, you might find some replies to these posts that you made that the script did not see.

The GDPR archive gives a full list of all the comments. What we need is a FOSS script that can use these csv files to get everything. Apparently Shreddit can take the csv files, however you have to pay $15 to use this feature.

Jon-H558,

I've already given $30 to kbin as a fuck you to Reddit what's $15 more

ChiefestOfCalamities,

I got rid of all my stuff with Reddit Enhancement Suite. Seemed to work well. Not the most user friendly method, but it's free and effective.

https://www.guidingtech.com/how-to-delete-all-reddit-comments-posts/

linoor,

Probably better to replace your comments with some gibberish generated by chatgtp instead of deleting them. It will be much harder to figure out on mass scale if the edit was legit or not compared to them just looking for recently deleted comments or comments that mention something like “comment deleted by x tool”.

siguza,
@siguza@mastodon.social avatar

@chri5 you did not attach any images though.

SpezCanLigmaBalls,
@SpezCanLigmaBalls@lemmy.world avatar

Lmao they are so desperate

BobKerman3999,

So yeah I removed all my messages and deleted my account at the beginning of the month. I deleted everything and kept the account for a week or and no messages where visible.

Guess what I found? All my messages are back and the account is still deleted.

Omegamanthethird,
@Omegamanthethird@lemmy.world avatar

I found some of my (assumed deleted) messages today that weren't actually listed under my profile any longer. But they were still on the post with my name on it.

bad_luck_charm,

My money is on this being a big due to the huge influx of comment updates and deletions. I can’t imagine they would do something this blatant on purpose.

ThorrJo,

I can’t imagine they would do something this blatant on purpose.

We are at the peak of the "AI" hype cycle, where training data is a huge asset. Never underestimate the power of $$$ (or the illusion of it) being waved under somebody's nose.

NorthernLightMountain,
NorthernLightMountain avatar

What the actual fuck?

This really is getting worse by the minute..

itsonlybrad,

@chri5 @Rairii jerk move. Can confirm a smattering of my edited and removed comments have been restored as well as removed submissions.

ciechom,

Wow, that's really shitty on Reddit's part.

Glench,

I recently made a browser extension that deletes your reddit posts or comments. It's not quite as advanced as PowerDelete yet but it's easier to install and I'm actively developing it: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bulk-delete-reddit-posts/nbfdoajmaaohkohdnbpjakamhcaaleco?hl=en&authuser=0

Let me know if you try it!

aeternum,

Nice work!

generalpotato,

I tired mine with PDS just now. And it sounds like it’ll make a come back. I’ll try yours next!

50gp,

looks like my comments deleted before blackout started are still deleted, so did they restore only more recent deletions?

chri5,
chri5 avatar

Possibly, but several people reported some old post have been restored as well, some deleted a long time ago.

db0,
@db0@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Warning, someone on reddit mentioned this is a known bug of the application used

Jimmni, (edited )

I’ve seen comments suggesting it’s something to do with PowerDelete. I used Shreddit to overwrite and delete mine and they’re still gone.

Brianala,
Brianala avatar

I deleted mine manually using the edit > delete on each comment individually and mine came back.

olrik,
olrik avatar

How do you know they came back? Do you see them agin in your profile? I used Power Delete Suite and except for 2 subreddits I can see no posts I made over the 14 last years in my profile? How do I make sure they have actually been deleted?

atxlvr,

stop spamming the same question

olrik,
olrik avatar

Sorry my comment got posted twice, it was not my intention, I think it's due to a bug.

Bipta,

It's pretty easy to double post on kbin.

lamentforicarus,

I used shreddit and mine are all back.

khubiliajahn,

I used Redacted and posts and comments are reappearing after I confirmed they were gone on the website. I then manually deleted and some have come back.

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