Shadowban

Meaning

The idiom "shadowban" refers to the practice of banning or removing a user's posts from a social media platform without notifying them. This is often done by the moderators of the platform as a way to punish users who violate the community guidelines, while still allowing them to remain on the platform without being suspended or banned outright. The term "shadowban" refers to the fact that the user's posts are effectively hidden from view, as though they have been cast into a shadow by a moderator.

Usage

• "After multiple complaints about inappropriate content, the social media platform decided to shadowban the user's account." - This sentence suggests that the user was punished for violating community guidelines without being explicitly banned from the platform.
• "The Instagram algorithm has been criticized for shadowbanning users who use certain hashtags or post content that is deemed inappropriate." - This sentence suggests that the platform's algorithm is responsible for shadowbanning users based on their posts or hashtags.
• "Some TikTok users have reported being shadowbanned from the platform, with no explanation for why their accounts were suspended." - This sentence suggests that TikTok moderators are responsible for shadowbanning users without providing any reasons for their actions.
• "The Twitter community has been criticized for shadowbanning users who voice unpopular opinions or engage in controversial discussions." - This sentence suggests that the platform's moderators are punishing users for expressing dissenting views, which may be perceived as a violation of community guidelines.
• "Some YouTubers have claimed to have been shadowbanned by the platform, with their videos receiving little or no viewership despite being posted regularly." - This sentence suggests that the platform's algorithm is responsible for shadowbanning users based on the success of their content, which may be perceived as a form of punishment.

Roots and History

The term "shadowban" was first coined in 2013 by a Twitter user named @julien_durand who discovered that his account had been shadowbanned by the platform's moderators. Since then, the practice of shadowbanning has become more common on social media platforms, with users and activists raising awareness about the potential negative effects of this form of punishment. However, it's important to note that shadowbanning is not always a malicious act, as it may be used by moderators to address specific violations of community guidelines without banning the user outright.

Synonyms in English

• Censorship - This refers to the practice of suppressing or eliminating speech or content that is deemed offensive or inappropriate by those in power.
• Silencing - This refers to the act of preventing someone from speaking or expressing their views, often through force or coercion.
• Blacklisting - This refers to the practice of excluding someone from a particular group or activity as a form of punishment or retaliation.
• Suppression - This refers to the act of preventing something from being seen or heard, often by those in power.
• Demotivation - This refers to the act of discouraging someone from doing something, often through criticism or punishment.

Synonyms in other languages

• Censure (French) - This refers to the practice of condemning or censuring speech or content that is deemed offensive or inappropriate by those in power.
• Abschrecken (German) - This refers to the act of deterring someone from doing something, often through punishment or retaliation.
• Censura (Spanish) - This refers to the practice of suppressing or eliminating speech or content that is deemed offensive or inappropriate by those in power.
• Verbannung (German) - This refers to the act of excluding someone from a particular group or activity as a form of punishment or retaliation.
• Silencio (Spanish) - This refers to the act of preventing someone from speaking or expressing their views, often through force or coercion.

Similar Idioms

• shed light

• seal of approval

• stand your ground