Shadowban: What is it, how long does it last and how to avoid it?

Shadowban is particularly relevant in today’s digital world. This is a phenomenon where a user’s activities or posts on an online platform become invisible to others without the user being notified.

This concept has gained attention due to its impact on freedom of expression and visibility on social networks and other websites.

Knowing how long a shadowban lasts and strategies to avoid it is crucial to understanding how to navigate the digital space effectively and safely, especially for those who rely on online visibility for their work or personal expression.

Understanding this topic will help you reflect on the transparency of digital platform policies and the importance of understanding the algorithms that govern our online presence.

Remember that if you need help to reverse Shadowban on your social media accounts, at Kiwop we are ready to help you. Do not hesitate to contact us!

What is Shadowban?

Shadowbanning is a term used to describe a practice on social networks and other online platforms where a user’s posts are made less visible or invisible to other users, but without the affected user being notified of this action.

This practice is often used to moderate behavior deemed inappropriate or against community norms, short of a complete ban.

When a user is shadowbanned, their posts, comments or activities do not appear in public feeds, searches or certain sections of the platform.

This can result in a noticeable decrease in interaction and reach, although the user can still access and use the platform normally, often without realizing that they have been subjected to this restriction.

Shadowban is a form of moderation that platforms use to maintain content quality and avoid spam, abuse or violations of community standards. However, this practice has also generated controversy and debate about transparency and fairness in online content moderation.

How do you know if you have been shadowbanned?

Determining whether you have been shadowbanned can be complicated, since, by definition, there is no direct notification of this action. However, there are certain signs and methods you can use to suspect or confirm a shadowban:

1. Sudden decrease in interaction: If you notice an unusual drop in ‘likes’, comments, or new followers, it could be a sign.

2. Third-party verification: Ask friends or followers who do not follow you to verify if they can see your posts in their feeds or through searches. If they can’t, it could be an indication.

3. Use an alternate account: Try searching and viewing your posts or profile from another account, especially one that does not follow you.

4. Check the visibility of hashtags: If you use hashtags in your posts, check if they appear on the pages of those hashtags for users who do not follow you.

5. Online tools and applications: There are tools and apps designed to help detect a shadowban, although their effectiveness may vary.

6. Consult the platform’s metrics: If you have access to analytics or statistics on the platform (such as on Instagram or Twitter), a decrease in reach or interaction may be a clue.

7. Response time or visibility: If your posts or comments take an unusually long time to appear to other users or if they don’t seem to generate any response, it could be an indication.

8. Search directly for your profile or content: Try searching for your username or specific content on the platform using an account that does not follow you.

It should be noted that a decrease in interaction or visibility may also be due to changes in the platform’s algorithms, the quality of the content, or general saturation in the network. Therefore, a shadowban is not always the only explanation.

Reasons for shadowban

Shadowbanning on digital platforms can occur for a number of reasons, usually related to violations of the platform’s policies or community standards. Some of the most common reasons include:

1. Violation of community standards: Posting content that goes against the platform’s guidelines, such as hate speech, harassment, explicit content, or misinformation.

2. Spam activity: Behavior that resembles spam, such as repeatedly posting the same content, overusing irrelevant hashtags, or sending mass friend or follow requests.

3. Use of bots or automation: Use software to automate activities, such as likes, comments, posts or follow-ups.

4. Copyrighted or plagiarized content: Posting content that infringes copyright or is plagiarized.

5. Abusive behavior or harassment: Engaging in harassment, threats, intimidation or any other form of abusive behavior.

6. Platform manipulation: Attempts to manipulate platform metrics, such as buying followers, likes, or engaging in inauthentic “engagement” practices.

7. Sensitive or controversial content: Posting content that, while not directly violating the rules, may be considered sensitive or controversial.

8. Excessive reporting by other users: Being reported frequently by other users may trigger an account review and possibly result in a shadowban.

How long does shadowban last in your accounts?

The duration of a shadowban on your accounts varies depending on the platform and the severity of the infraction. Here are some general points to consider:

1. Variable duration: A shadowban can typically last from a few days to several weeks. There is no standard period; it depends on the specific policy of each platform.

2. Minor infractions: For minor or first-time infractions, the shadowban may last for a shorter period, such as one week or less.

3. Serious or repeated violations: If the violations are serious or if there is a history of repeated violations, the shadowban may last longer, possibly several weeks or even months.

4. Different platforms, different rules: Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok have different policies for shadowban handling, and the duration may vary on each.

5. Review and appeal: In some cases, you can request a review or appeal a shadowban if you believe it has been unfairly applied, which may affect its duration.

6. No official notification: Since platforms generally do not notify users about shadowban, it can be difficult to determine exactly how long it will last.

Steps to follow if you have already had shadowban applied to your account

If you suspect that your account has been affected by a shadowban, there are several steps you can take to address the situation:

1. Check your recent posts: Check to see if any of your recent posts might have violated community standards. Remove any content that may be problematic.

2. Reduce activity temporarily: Give your account a break for a few days. Sometimes, simply reducing activity can help lift the shadowban.

3. Avoid prohibited practices: Make sure you are not using prohibited practices such as using bots, buying followers, or spamming hashtags.

4. Use hashtags strategically: If you are using hashtags, make sure they are relevant to your content and are not overused or blocked.

5. Contact platform support: If you believe shadowban is an error, contact platform support to get clarity or request a review of your case.

6. Audit your account: Check your account for broken links, outdated content or practices that could be seen as spam.

7. Improve your content strategy: Make sure your content is high quality, original and engaging for your audience.

8. Interact authentically: Encourage organic interaction with your followers. Respond to comments and engage in conversations in a genuine way.

9. Be patient: Sometimes, the shadowban is automatically lifted after a period of time if no further violations are committed.

10. Learn and adapt: Use this experience as an opportunity to better understand the platform’s policies and adjust your approach accordingly.

Tips to avoid shadowban

To avoid shadowban on social networks and other online platforms, it is essential to understand and follow the rules and best practices of each platform. Here are some useful tips:

1. Know and respect the community rules: Each platform has its own set of rules and guidelines. Familiarize yourself with them and be sure to follow the content and behavior policies.

2. Avoid spam and automated behavior: Don’t use bots for likes, comments, or follows, and avoid repeatedly posting the same content or using irrelevant or excessive hashtags.

3. Authentic interaction: Interact in a genuine way with your audience. Avoid artificial engagement tactics such as participation in like or comment chains.

4. Beware of sensitive content: Be aware of the nature of your content, especially if it is controversial, sensitive or could be interpreted as offensive.

5. Avoid excessive use of hashtags: Using too many hashtags or using popular hashtags that are not related to your content can be seen as spam.

6. Publish original and quality content: Avoid plagiarism and make sure your content is interesting, relevant and valuable to your followers.

7. Don’t buy followers or participate in artificial growth schemes: Platforms can detect and penalize these practices.

8. Address complaints and reports: If you receive complaints or your posts are reported, take the time to review and adjust your content if necessary.

9. Maintain a reasonable posting frequency: Avoid flooding your followers with too many posts in a short period of time.

10. Keep an eye on your statistics: Pay attention to changes in your reach and engagement that may indicate problems.

By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of facing a shadowban and maintain a healthy and positive presence on online platforms.