How do I track the scroll depth of users from Reddit?

You can track the scroll depth of users who arrive from Reddit by implementing a scroll-tracking mechanism on your site and ensuring you capture the referrer as Reddit. Use a web analytics tool to record scroll milestones (e.g., 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) and tie those events to the Reddit referrer. This gives you actionable insights into engagement from Reddit traffic.

Key concepts to track scroll depth from Reddit

What to measure

• Scroll milestones: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%.
• Time to first scroll and time to 50%/75%.
• Completion rate by Reddit referrer.
• Device and page variation for Reddit traffic.

How to implement

1) Choose an analytics method:

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4) automatic scroll events plus custom events for deeper milestones.
• Google Tag Manager (GTM) to fire events on scroll and attach referrer data.
• Other analytics platforms with scroll depth or custom event support.

2) Detect scroll depth:

• Use the native IntersectionObserver API or scroll event throttling for performance.
• Calculate percent scrolled as (scrollTop / (documentHeight - viewportHeight)) 100.
• Trigger events when milestones are crossed and avoid duplicate fires.

3) Capture Reddit as the referrer:

• Read document.referrer on page load and attach to events.
• If users come via Reddit mobile app, verify referrer handling may vary by platform.
• Store referrer in session or event payload for accurate attribution.

4) Tag and analyze:

• Send events with properties: milestone, page, referrer, device, timestamp.
• In GA4, create audiences or comparisons for referrer = Reddit.
• Run reports showing scroll depth by Reddit traffic vs. other sources.

5) Privacy and compliance:

• Provide a privacy notice about analytics tracking.
• Respect Do Not Track and regional laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Offer opt-out for users where required.

Practical setup examples

Example 1: Basic IntersectionObserver with GA4

• Register a scroll milestone observer in your main script.
• On crossing 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, send a GA4 event with properties:
• event_name: scroll_depth
• params: { milestone: '25%', referrer: document.referrer, page_path: location.pathname }

// Pseudo-code snippet

let milestones = new Set();

const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {

entries.forEach(e => {

if (e.isIntersecting) {

const pct = Math.round((e.target.dataset.percent 100) / e.target.clientHeight);

if (!milestones.has(pct)) {

milestones.add(pct);

sendAnalyticsEvent('scroll_depth', { milestone: pct + '%', referrer: document.referrer, url: location.pathname });

}

}

});

}, { root: null, threshold: [0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1] });

// Attach to elements that mark milestones

document.querySelectorAll('.scroll-marker').forEach(n => observer.observe(n));

Example 2: Simple scroll depth with GTM

• Set up a custom JavaScript variable to calculate depth.
• Use a Scroll Depth trigger for 25, 50, 75, 100% milestones.
• Send dataLayer events with milestone and referrer.

// Example dataLayer push

dataLayer.push({ event: 'scrollDepth', milestone: '50%', referrer: document.referrer, page: location.pathname });

Example 3: Handling Reddit-specific attribution

• Filter by referrer starting with reddit.com or i.reddit.com in your analytics segments.
• Compare scroll depth performance vs. non-Reddit sources.
• Visualize funnel: sessions -> scroll_depth events by Reddit referrer.

Pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Pitfall: Underreporting due to ad blockers or strict privacy controls.
• Mitigation: Use first-party data collection, degrade gracefully, provide clear consent and privacy options.
• Pitfall: Duplicate events on fast scrolling.
• Mitigation: Debounce or deduplicate milestone events; track once per page load per milestone.
• Pitfall: Inaccurate referrer on canonicalized URLs.
• Mitigation: Capture both document.referrer and UTMs if present; rely on GA4 session attribution.
• Pitfall: Mobile platform differences.
• Mitigation: Test on iOS and Android Reddit apps; ensure your implementation doesn’t rely on features blocked by apps.
• Pitfall: Performance impact.
• Mitigation: Use IntersectionObserver, throttle/deduplicate events, and batch analytics sends.

Best practices

• Use clear milestone labels: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%.
• Attach context: page path, device, and Reddit referrer.
• Validate data with sample reports before relying on it for decisions.
• Document your setup for future maintenance.

Common questions answered

• How do I attribute scroll depth to Reddit traffic?
• Capture the Reddit referrer on each scroll event and segment analytics reports by that referrer.
• Which milestones are most indicative of engagement?
• 50% and 75% often indicate meaningful engagement; 100% shows completion.
• Can I track scroll depth without affecting load time?
• Yes, use lightweight observers and batched events; avoid continuous polling.
• Do I need to use GA4?
• Not required, but GA4 provides built-in scroll tracking and flexible attribution, which simplifies analysis.
• How do I verify correctness?
• Compare traffic segments from Reddit versus other sources; sanity-check event counts at each milestone.
• What about privacy?
• Include a clear privacy notice; respect user preferences and legal requirements.
• How can I improve Reddit-driven scroll depth?
• Align content intent with Reddit audiences; optimize rapid value delivery and scannability.
• Are there platform limitations I should know?
• Some Reddit mobile experiences may limit referrer data; test across platforms and adapt.

SEE ALSO:

• How can i use reddit to find reliable freelancers
• What are the best tools for managing reddit account privacy
• How do i automate the process of retrieving reddit password
• Which reddit marketing tools are compliant with reddit s api terms