# shadow ban

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shadow-ban
Updated: 2026-08-14

## Definition

the act of secretly limiting how many people can see a user's content on a social media platform. The user doesn't get a notification, so they might not realize their posts are being hidden.

For teachers: an act by an online platform of suppressing a user's content so it is not visible to others, without notifying the affected user. Often used transitively as a verb.

## Examples

- A shadow ban can limit an account's reach.
- After his engagement dropped suddenly, he suspected the platform had given him a shadow ban for posting controversial content.
- Critics argue that opaque shadow ban policies allow platforms to censor speech under the guise of content moderation without affording users due process.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.