Are you being shadow banned?

X decided to let their AI program, "Grok," be used for free. I'm going to have a great time goofing off with it. On a lark I asked how I could tell if I was being "shadow banned" (I know I am, but what would they tell me?). Here was the reply:

Determining if you're being shadow banned can be tricky because social media platforms don't officially acknowledge shadow banning. However, there are several signs and methods you can use to check if your visibility on platforms like Instagram, Twitter/X, or others has been reduced:

General Signs of Shadow Banning:

1. Sudden Drop in Engagement:
   • A significant decrease in likes, comments, shares, or views on your posts could indicate a shadow ban. If your content usually gets a lot of interaction but suddenly stops, this might be a sign.

     
2. Posts Not Showing in Hashtag Searches:
   • If your posts do not appear in hashtag searches, even when you know you've used popular or relevant hashtags, you might be shadow banned.

     
3. Invisible to Non-Followers:
   • Your content might not appear in the feeds of people who don't follow you or on the platform's explore or discovery pages.

     

Platform-Specific Checks:

• Instagram:
  • Use a tool like the Instagram Account Status feature for professional accounts to see if your content is eligible for recommendations. For personal accounts, you can test by posting a unique, rarely used hashtag and having friends check if your post appears under that hashtag.

    
• Twitter/X:
  • Log out or use incognito mode to search for your username or tweets. If they don't appear, you might be shadow banned. Alternatively, use third-party tools designed to check for shadow bans.

    
• Facebook:
  • Check if your posts appear in other users' feeds by asking friends to search for your posts or check if your posts show up in relevant groups or hashtag searches.

    
• TikTok:
  • A sudden drop in views or your videos not showing up on the "For You" page might suggest a shadow ban. There's no direct way to check, but monitoring engagement can give clues.

    

Steps to Potentially Reverse a Shadow Ban:

• Review Your Content: Ensure your posts comply with community guidelines. Remove any content that might violate platform rules.
• Avoid Banned Hashtags: Using banned or inappropriate hashtags can trigger a shadow ban. Always check if hashtags are banned before use.

  
• Reduce Post Frequency: If you've been posting too frequently, take a break for a few days. This can help reset your account's visibility.
• Avoid Spammy Behavior: Don't engage in mass following, liking, or comment spam, as these can flag your account for shadow banning.

  

While these methods can help identify a shadow ban, they are not foolproof. Platforms continuously update their algorithms, and what might be a sign today might not be tomorrow. If you suspect you've been shadow banned, observing your account's behavior over time and adjusting your interaction patterns accordingly is advisable.