How to Check If You’re Shadowbanned on Twitter

Shadowbanning is one of the hottest topics among Twitter users. But what is ‘shadowbanned twitter’? Is this term real, and do users actually get blocked without knowing? If this is the first time you’re hearing this word, we’re here to explain. Shadowbanning describes a situation when a user or its content are fully or partially blocked from a platform, and they’re not even aware of it. 

Also known as a stealth ban, this activity appears to be common on Twitter, however the platform denies doing it. If your account and numbers have been acting strange recently, maybe you’re one of the latest targets. Finish the text to find out how to detect a ban, how to avoid it and what to do if it happens. 

How To Detect If Your Account Has Limited Visibility?

With over 192 million daily active users, what are the chances of your account getting shadowbanned? Although there is no certain way to tell that you’ve been ghost banned on Twitter, there are a few things you can do to confirm your doubts. Twitter states that they don’t practice shadow banning, and that all accounts are treated the same. In 2020, this platform updated its Terms of Service and added this statement:

“We may also remove or refuse to distribute any content on the services, limit distribution or visibility of any content on the service, suspend or terminate users, and reclaim usernames without liability to you”.

In other words, they deny stealth banning, but they do it anyway. If you’re suspicious that your account is banned, there are some signs that can give you an answer. 

Start by checking your engagement. If it’s been much lower recently, the chances are you’re under a Twitter shadowban. However, you have to remember that a low engagement isn’t always due to a ban, but it can appear because of various reasons. The concerning sign is that your engagement is zero. 

One way to do a twitter shadowban check is by trying to find if your Twitter account will show up in the search results.

Am I shadowbanned twitter? Here’s how to check if you are shadowbanned on Twitter:

1. Log out from your account.
2. Click on your web browser and open an incognito window.
3. Type in www.twitter.com/explore. This will take you to Twitter’s explore page.
4. Use the search bar to find your name and see if this platform did limit the visibility of your content.
5. Type in “from: username.” Instead of the word username, use your actual Twitter username.

If the search doesn’t show any of your previous posts, it means that you’re very likely shadowbanned.

Efficient Ways To Avoid A Twitter Shadowban

There are a few factors that Twitter can use to label bad-faith actors and to start ghost banning them. If you avoid doing these things, you’ll maybe also avoid a shadowban.

Confirm Your Email Address

Not confirming your email address is a rookie mistake. Twitter can mistake you for a bot or an inactive user and stop showing your content.

Add A Profile Picture

Users that haven’t uploaded a profile picture are more likely to be banned. One of the basics of owning a social media platform is inputting your information and adding a profile picture. It doesn’t even have to be your picture; just add an image.

Get Verified

Getting verified and getting more followers is another way to secure your account from shadowbanning. You’ll need to work very hard in order to get the verification, but at least you’ll know that your profile is safe.

Don’t Spam

Twitter is not a fan of spamming behavior. If your content is too spammy, the platform can limit the visibility of your profile. Since you don’t want that to happen, you should take things down a notch. Even if Twitter and promotion is your way of earning, you should do it tastefully and without being too pushy. 

Don’t Argue Or Leave Hurtful Comments

You should avoid arguing with other users or leaving disrespectful, hurtful comments at any cost. Even if you disagree with someone’s views, you should stay quiet or develop a respectful discussion.

Don’t Follow And Unfollow

Many users think they’ll grow their follower count if they follow other accounts then unfollow them days later. It’s suspicious behavior and can score you a ban.

What To Do If You’re Shadowbanned?

There is no magic trick that will lift the ban, but there are certain things you can do to speed up the process. Creating an online community requires a lot of work, so bringing back your profile should be your priority. Although there is no guarantee that these tips will work 100%, they’re proven as successful by other users that have been shadowbanned previously.

1. Stop Tweeting

When a Twitter user gets shadowbanned, the most important thing is to stop Tweeting right away. In most cases, the ban lasts for a few days before it’s lifted. During this time, you have to put your Tweeting habits on hold and be very patient. Yes, it can be challenging, especially if you’re an avid user but keep in mind that having your account back is the most important thing. If you keep posting Tweets, the platform can extend your ban, and you’ll end up losing everything you’ve worked so hard for.

1. Stop Spamming

Spamming behavior is one of the most common reasons why Twitter can find you suspicious. The chances are, this social media network changed the visibility of any content on your profile because you were spamming.

So, your next step should be to remove all the links and Tweets that appear spammy. It can be a lot of work, but you should give this tip a try if you want your account back. You should also stop automated posts because they appear spammy and are not a good idea at that particular moment.

1. Change Your Interests

Some of your interests can cause the ban. If you’ve listed specific interests in your information, you should go back and revise them. Make sure that none of those are against Twitter’s terms and conditions. If nothing seems out of the ordinary, you can just uncheck all the interests.

1. Get In Touch With Twitter Representatives

If you don’t know what else to do, and the ban hasn’t been lifted for days, maybe it’s time to get in touch with Twitter representatives. So many people find this option helpful. Once you talk to a representative, they might be able to tell you if your account has been flagged and why that happened. Unfortunately, they rarely give an exact reason, and they will deny shadowbanning. There is no way to know how fast they will respond, but this tip is worth trying.

1. Stop Buying Fake Followers

Getting fake followers won’t help you rise to fame. When you buy fake followers, you actually get bots, and that’s against the rules of all social media platforms. Instead, you should invest in a secure organic growth service that will use the latest technologies to help you grow.

Conclusion

What is ‘shadowbanned Twitter’? Does the platform practice ghost banning, even if they deny it? Well, they say no, but so many online users say yes. If you think you’ve been banned, the first sign to look for is zero engagement. Next, use our guide to check if your account appears when you search for it on Twitter. If it doesn’t, well, we’re sorry to say you’ve been banned.

What can you do once that happens? If you’re ghosted, you should stop with any activity. In other words, no more Tweeting until your profile is active again, no spammy or automated Tweets, and no spammy links. Next, you should change your interests and get in touch with the Twitter team. Finally, stop buying followers and invest in a real growth service.