We have all heard about social media accounts being banned, but have you ever heard about Shadow Banning?
I learnt about this term today, from a business contact (thanks Alex!), so for those of you who don’t know what it is, here is a condensed explanation:
Shadow banning is a practice used on social media platforms and online communities where a user’s content or account is limited or hidden without them being explicitly informed. This can make the user feel as though they are still engaging normally, but their posts, comments, or profile may not be visible to others or may receive significantly reduced visibility.
Here’s how it typically works:
- Content Limitation: A platform’s algorithm may hide a user’s posts from appearing in feeds, search results, or trending topics.
- Engagement Reduction: Other users may see less of the shadow-banned person’s content, which leads to lower engagement (fewer likes, shares, or comments).
- No Notification: The user is not directly told they are shadow-banned, so they may continue to post without realizing their reduced impact.
Vey frustrating…
Why Do Platforms Use Shadow Banning?
- To Control Spam or Harmful Behavior: Platforms might use it to limit spam, misinformation, or abusive behavior without outright banning an account.
- Avoid Public Backlash: Instead of suspending or banning a user, which can cause disputes, shadow banning quietly reduces their reach.
Shadow banning is controversial because it lacks transparency. Critics argue that users should be informed if their content is being limited and why, as it impacts free speech and trust in platforms.
Many users believe they have been shadow-banned, but platforms like Twitter and Instagram often deny or minimize these claims, attributing visibility issues to changes in algorithms.
I’m not a fan of either being kept in the dark or people who are economical with the truth. I understand accounts have been shadow banned because it has been decided that they were spamming the platform whereas in fact, it was just a case of a business owner having posted several articles in quick succession (because we are busy people and it’s easier to do some things all at the same time).
Has this happened to you?
