This is a relatively new reddit feature; it must have rolled out within the past couple of months. If you want to implement the small step improvement in safety by not allowing followers to your account:

  • on a computer, you will need to be using the new reddit design. If you aren't sure if you are using the new design, just go to https://new.reddit.com/user/<your username>
  • Click on your username in the upper right corner
  • Click User Settings
  • Click Profile
  • Turn off the option to "Allow people to follow you"
  • While you are at it, check your settings under Safety & Privacy, and under Chat & Messaging

To be clear, even if a person is not able to "follow" you, they can still look you up manually and see your posts and comments. By not being able to follow you, it just makes it a bit more difficult for them to stalk you.

Also note that "blocking" a user only prevents you from seeing them. They can still see your posts and comments. Reddit knows all this but do they care about the safety of women and minorities? Lol, no.