Shadowban
A suspected or actual visibility restriction that makes a user’s posts harder to discover without clearly suspending the account.
“My posts suddenly stopped reaching anyone, so I wondered if I was shadowbanned.”
Users say shadowban when reach drops, posts disappear from recommendations, or comments seem hidden. Sometimes moderation systems reduce visibility, but ordinary algorithm changes or weak engagement can produce similar symptoms.
The term evolved from older forum moderation practices in which a user’s posts remained visible to that user but were hidden from others. It later spread to major social platforms.
shadow banned
The two-word past-tense spelling.
shadowbanned
The common single-word past-tense spelling.
visibility filtering
A more neutral description for systems that limit distribution.
How do you know if you are shadowbanned?
There is rarely a definitive public test; reduced reach can have many causes, so platform notices and analytics are more reliable than rumors.
Is shadowbanning the same as suspension?
No. A suspension blocks or disables an account openly, while a shadowban is described as a less visible reduction in reach.
Do platforms admit to shadowbanning?
Platforms use various visibility and recommendation controls, but they may reject the broad or inconsistent way users apply the word shadowban.