What does “Shadowban” mean in the context of social media?

A shadowban is when a social media platform restricts the visibility of a user’s content without notifying them. This means that while the user can still post and interact normally, their posts may not appear in the feeds or search results of others, effectively reducing their reach and engagement.

Shadowbanning is commonly used by platforms to combat spam, inappropriate content, or violations of community guidelines, but can sometimes affect legitimate users by mistake.

The term shadowban often refers to being subtly “punished” by a platform without the user’s direct awareness of it, leading to frustration when content seemingly stops reaching its intended audience.

Example

I think I’ve been shadowbanned - none of my posts are showing up in the hashtag feed anymore. #Shadowban #SocialMediaFrustration

What are ways to identify if you’ve been shadowbanned?

If you notice a significant drop in engagement or visibility on your posts—especially on hashtags or search results - it may be a sign of a shadowban. One way to check is by searching for your content in an incognito browser or asking friends to look for it. If they can’t see your posts where they usually would, you might be experiencing a shadowban.

It's also possible that certain keywords, hashtags, or content types could trigger the algorithm, so reviewing your activity and ensuring compliance with platform guidelines is key.

Pro Tip

To avoid being shadowbanned, avoid spamming hashtags, using banned or irrelevant keywords, and posting content that violates platform policies. Keeping your content authentic and within the platform’s guidelines will help maintain visibility.