Unlike popular social media or blogging platforms—where content and activity, and for some people, a verification badge, are the best indicators of what a user is like and what quality he adds to the network—Steemit has a dedicated reputation score system coded into the blockchain. Most Steemit users, if not all, notice the reputation score written next to their Steemit username or name (if set).
Why Is This Tutorial Needed?
But too many times, we come across newbie users showing a complete disregard for their reputation score and repeating things which get them flagged. The inspiration behind compiling a complete tutorial/guide on reputation score system is to help newbies understand that reputation score is important. Once they realize how critical their reputation score is, it is natural that they will start doing the right things on Steemit.
In short, this post will serve as a significant contribution to the betterment of Steem ecosystem by imparting right knowledge and encouraging right behavior on the network. Please do help it reach more people and mention its link in your blog posts.
Following are the things you should know about Steemit reputation score system. The code governing reputation system may change in future as the system evolves but reputation scores are here to stay for a long time.
Reputation Score Starts at 25
When you joined, you had a reputation score of 25. Same is the case of all Steemians. All new accounts are created with a reputation score of 25 and it is up to the user to increase or decrease it through his interaction with the blockchain and with other users.
It Increases Only with Upvotes
Upvotes you get on your content—posts and comments—are the only variable related to your reputation score. But there are some interesting limitations too. How that is done or calculated is shown as you read further.
Reputation score is not affected when:-
You upvote others.
You receive author rewards in your wallet.
You earn curation rewards.
You publish a post or comment on a published post.
In short, only the upvotes you get will increase your reputation score. Nothing else!
Only Downvotes/Flags on Your Content Decrease Your Reputation Score
Only the flags (also called downvotes) can decrease your reputation score. Again, some protectionis enabled in the code to prevent abuse. How that is done or calculated will also be explained later as well.
Reputation & Account Value are NOT Related
There is no direct relationship—whatsoever—between your reputation score and the value of your Steemit account (as shown in the wallet). Which means that reputation score is independent of:-
The amount of Steem in a user's wallet.
The amount of Steem Power—owned or/and delegated—that a user has.
The amount of SBD in his wallet.
Since the Steemit wallet balance is not related to reputation score, it does not matter if you buy steem, power down, receive or send Steem/SBD to or from exchanges and send Steem or SBD to a fellow user. Your reputation score will remain unaffected.
There are scores of Steemit accounts having a reputation score of 25 but SP worth millions of dollars.