Don't want to spam every thread, but leaving a link here in case you're interested in a "Reddit-a-like that doesn't do the things that Reddit does" [1]
On mobile Safari you can use the "Hide Distracting Items" and click on the popup and the following gradient block to block the two items. You can then continue using it as normal. It's an annoying workaround, but I use it when I need to check on a post. Hopefully they ditch this approach, I think it's a bad example for other apps to follow.
Reddit didn't suck for about 1-2 years when it launched. Then it began sucking. I haven't looked at it in about that long but Im sure by now it is 100% suck. Just leave it.