Shadow banning

Extracted Attributes

• Purpose

  To discourage problematic behavior, spam, or trolling; to frustrate users into leaving the platform due to lack of engagement; to reduce visibility of harmful user-generated content.

• Definition

  The practice of blocking or partially blocking a user or their content from some areas of an online community in such a way that the ban is not readily apparent to the user.

• Mechanisms

  Making comments visible only to the sender, delisting content, downranking content, suppressing content in activity feeds and search suggestions.

• Effect on User

  Account remains active, but posts do not appear in hashtag searches, content is shown to fewer followers, leading to a significant drop in engagement without notification.

• Origin of Term

  Colloquial history, originally applied to deceptive account suspension on web forums.

• Alternative Names

  stealth banning, hell banning, ghost banning, comment ghosting

• Observed Triggers

  Repeated violations of community guidelines, including hate speech, harassment, bullying, or sensitive/graphic content.

• Evolution of Usage (2022)

  Term came to apply to alternative measures, particularly visibility measures like delisting and downranking.

• Distinction from Outright Ban/Block

  Unlike a ban or block, the account remains active, and the user is not notified of the restriction; content's reach is significantly reduced rather than removed.

Timeline

• The term 'shadow ban' (as a transitive verb) first appeared in its defined meaning, according to Merriam-Webster. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

  2007

• The usage of the term 'shadow banning' evolved to encompass alternative measures, specifically visibility measures such as delisting and downranking content. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2022

• Elon Musk began releasing the 'Twitter Files', which he stated exposed systemic censorship practices, including shadow banning, and alleged collusion between former Twitter executives and government agencies like the FBI. (Source: Related Document)

  2022-12-02

Shadow banning

Shadow banning, also known as stealth banning, hell banning, ghost banning, and comment ghosting, is the practice of blocking or partially blocking a user or the user's content from some areas of an online community in such a way that the ban is not readily apparent to the user, regardless of whether the action is taken by an individual or an algorithm. For example, shadow-banned comments posted to a blog or media website would be visible to the sender, but not to other users accessing the site. The phrase "shadow banning" has a colloquial history and has undergone some evolution of usage. It originally applied to a deceptive sort of account suspension on web forums, where a person would appear to be able to post while actually having all of their content hidden from other users. In 2022, the term has come to apply to alternative measures, particularly visibility measures like delisting and downranking. By partly concealing, or making a user's contributions invisible or less prominent to other members of the service, the hope may be that in the absence of reactions to their comments, the problematic or otherwise out-of-favour user will become bored or frustrated and leave the site, and that spammers and trolls will be discouraged from continuing their unwanted behavior or creating new accounts.

Web Search Results

• Shadow banning - Wikipedia

  Shadow banning, also known as stealth banning, hell banning, ghost banning, and comment ghosting, is the practice of blocking "Block (Internet)") or partially blocking a user "User (computing)") or the user's content from some areas of an online community in such a way that the ban is not readily apparent to the user, regardless of whether the action is taken by an individual or an algorithm. For example, shadow-banned comments posted to a blog or media website would be visible to the sender, [...] The phrase "shadow banning" has a colloquial history and has undergone some evolution of usage. It originally applied to a deceptive sort of account suspension on web forums, where a person would appear to be able to post while actually having all of their content hidden from other users. In 2022, the term has come to apply to alternative measures, particularly visibility measures like delisting and downranking.( [...] Read Edit View history General What links here Related changes Upload file Permanent link Page information Cite this page Get shortened URL Download QR code Expand all Edit interlanguage links Print/export Download as PDF Printable version In other projects Wikidata item From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Blocking a user from an online community without their awareness

• Shadow Ban - What is it and how does it work? - GetStream.io

  A shadow ban is a tactic that moderators and product teams use to reduce the visibility of arguably harmful user-generated content (UGC) or user profiles without notification. The content and profile remain active and published, but algorithms suppress an individual post or entire profile in activity feeds and search suggestions. This practice is also sometimes referred to as stealth banning or ghost banning. [...] Blocking can refer to one user removing the ability of another to interact with them or see their profile, or it can refer to a platform restricting access to accounts, IP addresses, and more. Banning typically means the temporary or permanent disabling or removal of a user account. Shadow banning reduces visibility without removal or notification. #### What Kind of Content Gets Shadow Banned? [...] Since most platforms keep the details of this enforcement action under wraps, the exact triggers aren't known. However, overwhelming feedback and observations from creators and users online indicate that some broad categories of behavior can result in partial or total shadow bans. ### Community Guideline Violations The most obvious cause of stealth banning is repeated violations of community guidelines. This can include: Hate speech, harassment, or bullying Sensitive or graphic content

• Understanding Shadow Ban: what it is and how to prevent it

  > According to Cambridge Dictionary: Shadowban is if a social media company shadowbans someone’s posts, it limits who can see them, usually without the person who has published them knowing. Unlike an outright ban or block, shadow banning is more subtle – your account remains active, but your posts don’t appear in hashtag searches, and your content is shown to fewer followers. This can lead to a significant drop in engagement, as fewer people are seeing and interacting with your posts. [...] For businesses, influencers, and content creators who rely on social media for marketing and revenue generation, shadow banning can be particularly damaging. A drop in engagement can lead to fewer sales, diminished brand awareness, and lost opportunities for collaboration or sponsorships. Brands that appear less active or engaging may also lose credibility and trust among their audience​. 5. Psychological and emotional effects [...] No, shadow banning is different from being banned or blocked. When you’re banned or blocked, your account is either removed from the platform or restricted from accessing certain features. With shadow banning, your account remains active, but your content’s reach is significantly reduced. ## How long does shadow ban last?

• SHADOW BAN Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

  “Shadow ban.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Accessed 31 Oct. 2025. ## Share Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! ## More from Merriam-Webster Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word. ### Can you solve 4 words at once? ### Can you solve 4 words at once? #### Word of the Day #### hobgoblin [...] Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox! © 2025 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated [...] link icon link icon link icon Definition Definition # shadow ban ## verb How to pronounce shadow ban (audio) transitive verb ## Examples of shadow ban in a Sentence ## Word History 2007, in the meaning defined above ## Rhymes for shadow ban ## Browse Nearby Words ## Articles Related to shadow ban ### 200 New Words and Definitions Added to... ### 'Shadowban' Emerges from the Dark ## Cite this Entry

• Talking about shadow-banning for the fourth video in a series ...

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Shadow banning, also called stealth banning, hellbanning, ghost banning or comment ghosting, is the practice of blocking or partially blocking a user or the user's content from some areas of an online community in such a way that the ban is not readily apparent to the user. For example, shadow banned comments posted to a blog or media website will not be visible to other users accessing the site. By partly concealing, or making a user's contributions invisible or less prominent to other members of the service, the hope may be that in the absence of reactions to their comments, the problematic or otherwise out-of-favour user will become bored or frustrated and leave the site, and that spammers and trolls will be discouraged to continue their unwanted behavior or create new accounts.