r/ShadowBan • u/cojoco γ • Apr 26 '26
An unofficial guide for avoiding a shadowban
(note: if you falsely tell someone they are banned, or unbanned, when they are not, you will be banned from this sub)
tl;dr
Lots of people come here in mystification, wondering if they're shadowbanned, and wondering why. This post contains a list of possible reasons you've been shadowbanned. It also contains activities which can lead to an account suspension, which is more visible to the user, but just as inconvenient.
First, though, a little reddit background.
About reddit
The website reddit.com is run by reddit the company, a subsidiary of Advance Publications Inc. The CEO of reddit is Ellen Pao (/u/ekjp) with first lieutenant Alexis Ohanian (/u/kn0thing). The site is huge, with a hundred million visitors a month.
Reddit is grouped into subreddits, with each subreddit run by a volunteer group of moderators, who are generally unpaid volunteers.
Moderators have the power to ban users from their subreddit, to delete comments and submissions, and to manage the style and presentation of their subreddit. Through the use of third-party tools, some moderators have the power to ban a user from hundreds of subreddits at a time.
Being banned from a subreddit means that you are not allowed to submit links or make new comments, and might be reversed upon appeal to the modmail of the concerned subreddit.
reddit.com also has a small number of employees, called admins. These people have the power to see everything happening on reddit, to remove material as with moderators, to perform moderator actions in any subreddit they choose, and, most importantly for this place, to shadowban or suspend users.
A shadowban is different from a subreddit ban. A shadowbanned user can still submit and make comments, but all of the submissions are sent straight to a subreddit spam queue, where it will not be visible to other users until approved by a moderator. Because an individual's spammed submissions are still visible to themselves, a shadowban is almost invisible to a logged-in user.
Through the use of AutoModerator, individual subreddits can give the same effect to a user as a global shadowban.
If you are shadowbanned, your user page will appear nonexistent to anybody that looks at your user page, other than yourself. You will need to contact the admins to get your shadowban reversed.
A suspension occurs when the admins disable an account. Suspensions can either be for a few days, in which case it is not visible to other userts, or permanently, in which the user's page is replaced by a suspension notification.
Reasons for shadowbans and suspensions
It's not exactly spelled out what will cause a ban, and the rules do seem to change from time to time, but if you follow these rules you'll be unlikely to be shadowbanned or suspended. Thanks to the posters here who have suggested more ways to be banned.
Posting some spam links results in an immediate and automatic shadowban
(new) Quoting comments from another user can lead reddit to link your account to the other user, so when they get shadowbanned you get shadowbanned
Don't post advertisements for commercial products unless the advertisement has some redeeming features and is relevant to the subreddit in which you post it
Don't post links to your own blog, unless you post a lot of content from other places.
Don't post links to anyone elses blog, or to a single news source. Ensure that you post from a wide range of sources.
Don't use a VPN to create your account
Don't follow people around on reddit and hassle them
Don't relentlessly downvote a user
Don't send out mass PMs
Don't be a bot, unless you're really really careful, and have the blessing of the admins
Don't harp on the same subject in your comments
Don't issue death threats
Don't post child pornography or anything involving the sexualization of teens or minors
Don't post sexual material containing unconsenting subjects (for example, revenge porn, upskirt photos or celebrity leaks)
Don't abuse or hassle the admins
Don't post any information that would identify another redditor, including links to other social media sites, unless you have explicit permission from the person involved. (doxxing)
Don't advocate or encourage doxxing
Don't ask for doxx, even privately
Don't post anything asking for votes, from on- or off-site
Don't respond to a plea for votes, from on- or off-site
Don't vote in threads you were directed to from another part of reddit
Don't engage in nuisance reporting
Don't use multiple accounts to game the voting system
Don't return to a sub you have been banned from with another account
Don't use CSS in your sub to subvert reddit's subscription and voting system
Don't follow links into someone else's subreddit and be a dick
Don't impersonate another redditor with a name of similar appearance, e.g. /u/LaureIai ("I") for /u/Laurelai ("l")
Don't be under 13 years of age
If you're a mod, don't respond to PMs related to moneymaking or promotional offers of any kind. Report them immediately.
If you're an arsehole, the admins will not give you the benefit of the doubt.
Also, it can't hurt to read the reddiquette: if everyone followed the reddiquette, the site would be more pleasant, and all-around better.
(EDIT) Also, there are some things for which there is weak evidence of triggering a shadowban:
(weak) Don't signup using old.reddit.com without an email address
(weak) Don't use more than one alt within one subreddit
(weak) Don't submit every link to several subreddits at a time
(weak) Don't accept moderator invitations to dodgy subreddits
(weak) Don't comment in threads you came to via a non-organic link (i.e. external site, meta sub, from modmail or PM)
(weak) Don't register using an email address easily detected as a throwaway.
(weak) Don't give yourself awards from another account
tl;dr Don't spam, shill, doxx, brigade, stalk, game or pederast.
How to contact admins
Two ways, pretty sure that #2 no longer works:
Lodge your appeal: https://www.reddit.com/appeal (or https://www.reddit.com/appeals ?)
Message them: https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/reddit.com
(This is the fifth copy ... aged pages are 1 2 3 4
Last edited April 24, 2024
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u/MeGoL1 CQS: Lowest Jun 23 '26
I am shadowbanned too. I have sent an appeal today. What are the reasons they could actually remove the ban
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u/cojoco γ Jun 23 '26
If you work out what caused the ban and promise never to do it again.
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u/Crazy_Producer_257 CQS: High Jul 17 '26
Thank you for this thread! After being shadowbanned, learning so much about what not to do π
Thank you!!!π
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u/Consistent-Pop-9033 CQS: High 4d ago
A few months ago, I changed my device and started using my Reddit account on my new phone. Iβm not sure what happened, but my account seems to have been shadowbanned. The confusing part is that my account wasnβt permanently banned, and I never received any clear explanation for what happened. Iβve been trying to recover it by submitting appeals, but nothing seems to be working. That account has over 20k karma, and Iβve been using it for more than six years, so losing access to it is honestly quite frustrating. Out of no choice, I created this new account recently. Do you think I should continue appealing for my old account, or should I just accept that I might not get it back?
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u/LilMsToeThang May 20 '26
Has anybody had success with trying option #2, messaging instead of the appeal?
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u/DogsRNice CQS: Highest May 20 '26
What does the QCS in user flairs mean?
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u/cojoco γ May 20 '26
"Contributor Quality Score", it's a metric computed by reddit and used to guide its spam filters.
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u/Deep_Pudding2208 CQS: High Jul 17 '26
I want to bring to your notice an issue that may impact the functioning of this sub and its usefulness to redditors.
I'm seeing cases where users aren't shadowbanned when they make a post here. So people accurately respond that they're not shadowbanned. But after a few hours the account actually gets shadowbanned. I believe this could lead to confusion in the very least.
example: here's a post where I told op that they weren't shadowbanned. Also demonstrated by ops CQS score being displayed. However when I rechecked after a few hours they had now gotten shadowbanned.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShadowBan/s/0uxWqudv8R
[Also sent via mod mail. posted here for general visibility]
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u/cojoco γ Jul 17 '26
You could help out by informing them.
We usually get to it eventually.
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u/kashif-blogger1 Jul 21 '26
Thank you for this guide. Unfortunately, I'm still struggling.
My account has been restricted for 48 days now. I've submitted 18 appeals, but I haven't received a single response or update.
I also requested and reviewed all of my Reddit account data, but there was no information explaining why my account was restricted.
I really wish Reddit would provide a ticket number or confirmation after an appeal is submitted, along with an estimated review time. Even knowing that my appeal is being reviewed would make a big difference.
I hope Reddit can improve this process for users facing the same situation.
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Jul 22 '26
i dont know what has happened to my account all my post shows removed by reddit filters all my new comments arent visible. i am not able to post anything
can someone help me ? i am putting message on the appeal for several days.
my account is 2 week old and i was posting in world cup sub where my post got good engagement and around 200 krma. idk due to this they have assumed me as a bot...
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u/MysteriousYam8754 Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
It's been 3 days and counting for me. I've submitted three appeals till now, but still no response.. should i keep appealing daily to improve my chances or just wait and appeal once in a while?
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u/Successful-League840 Sep 28 '26
I have already determined that I am shadow banned. I have sent two appeals but received no response.
Am I ever likely to get one? Is my account simply a lost cause?
If so I will likely quit Reddit which is a shame as I have been very active in several Subs. All because I tried to waste a Trolls time. Despite the Troll doing the exact same thing as me neither of their accounts are banned π€¬
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u/cojoco γ Sep 29 '26
I'm of the belief that some trolls are admins.
But no matter, perhaps you could try making a new account?
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u/Muzzledbutnotout 18d ago
How long will I be in purgatory? Should i just scrub my internet trail and use a new email to create a new profile? On the plus side, that would clear me from the subs that banished me. I think I was incorrectly snagged as spam. I'm not spam.
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18d ago
As a new reddit user, I've figured out some things about the shadowban process that may help you update the sticky.
Reddit keeps track of people's quality user score (CQS) which is based upon the account age, your total karma, and the frequency that your posts get up-voted or down-voted (in other words, if you make 5 posts where one gets 20 upvotes but 3 get 2 down votes, your CQS will go down because most of your posts are being down-voted).
If your CQS drops beneath a certain level, you get auto-banned by the AI with no notification (aka shadowbanned). For brand new accounts, this can happen with very few downvoted posts.
It could happen because you made up-voted posts on a Wednesday, but on a Sunday a bunch of people went back and down-voted you. Then on Monday your account is banned by AI. It could happen because you replied to one person who went into your post history and downvoted everything.
Once it happens the first time, reddit tracks your device data and the threshhold for AI to shadowban you keeps getting lower and lower. You can get shadowbanned just by making a single post.
Additionally, this is tracked on a per-subreddit basis. If you have high karma in one subreddit, you can still get shadowbanned if your first few posts in another subreddit get a downvote or two.
Separately, some reddits have minimum CQS scores or account ages in order to post, or else a moderator has to approve it before other users see it. Some (most) subreddits are up-front about it, but some are not. Getting an auto-moderator reply that your post was removed for account age / low karma lowers your CQS and could result in a shadowban.
This makes getting started on reddit extremely difficult and frustrating. A benign comment on a food forum that you like strawberry ice cream can get you banned from the site because people who disagree with you will down-vote.
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u/VanBananOfficial CQS: Lowest 17d ago
I got shadow banned because of the security reasons. I think it's because of the VPN, I'm Russian after all :P (also I got a 10 minute timer after every message, dang it)
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u/Either_Emotion_1246 15d ago
Hi, my account is u/Either_Emotion_1246
I think my account got caught in the spam filter by mistake. My username was auto generated when i signed up and i usually browse using a VPN, so i probably look like a bot to the automated system. I can assure you i am a real person.
Other people are telling me my profile shows up as banned, even though everything looks completely normal on my end. Could someone please take a look and review this?
Thanks.
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u/cojoco γ 15d ago
You are shadowbanned, and it was probably the VPN which did it.
everything looks completely normal on my end
That is why it's called a shadowban
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u/Adept_Scratch_6870 10d ago
I am currently shadowbanned for mentioning deepseek and sending a link to a deepseek post in a reddit comment. I don't think it is a viable reason to shadowban me.
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u/cojoco γ 10d ago
It's possible that that site has content which is against reddit rules, such as CSAM, dox, or exploits.
But I don't think it's fair either, and both of my shadowbans were for posting links to sites reddit didn't like.
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7d ago
Would you please help checked on my account:
Am i shadowbanned? π
I cannot send message.
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May 06 '26
Been a month and still shadow banned. Iβve been appealing everyday and still no luck. Any idea how long this takes cuz Iβm just going to make another profile. This is ridiculous.
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May 22 '26
Wait, when you say "harp on the same subject?"
can be like...talking about your abuse as a child in different discussions?
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u/DisturbingModsExist May 27 '26
Am I? I made a new account and shit is weird. I get "unable to send message" when I click the "click here" option.
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u/Night-Bite May 28 '26
I think I might be shadowbanned :( reasoning being that I posted something and then quickly deleted it after realizing it had the wrong tags. I tried to repost and then the automod team took it down again for having the wrong link. I tried to submit an appeal stating this but recieved an email from an automated message saying the shadowban remains in place.
I'm not entirely sure what to do now and would really appreciate some help
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u/kydrie May 28 '26
I think I got banned for pointing out that a very religious guy had a nsfw username (alpha b**ties in this case) while the user in question is fine :)))
Any idea how I should appeal?
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u/cojoco γ May 28 '26
Politely explain the situation to the best of your ability and promise never to do it again.
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u/tintarelladiiluna CQS: Moderate Jun 02 '26
Am I shadowbanned? I was having βintermittent synchronisationβ issues with my broadband yesterday afternoon while I submitted a post on one of my most frequently-visited subreddits, when I got an email from Reddit saying they locked my account due to detecting βsome technical irregularitiesβ β I reset my password as instructed, but now all of my posts have been βremoved by Redditβs filtersβ and I can no longer post comments or send DMs to the mods :(
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u/chops1337 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
am I? got active on this site again after about a year or so; everything was fine the past week or two and then a couple days ago my profile picture dissappears, I can't adjust any of my profile settings I start getting messages about a Server Error every few minutes.
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u/CockPitIsLit CQS: Highest Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
Guessing I am?
Edit - looks like it's unbanned, but all posts are still deleted.
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u/Evlogiathewriter14 Jun 08 '26
Am i? I opened my account a year ago but never really posted or done anything on the account until yesterday but then i noticed my comments where being deleted by reddit itself
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u/haritos90 Jun 10 '26
Guess I am also shadowbanned? I am using VPN (my own server, not a public one) - is this prohibited on Reddit?
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Jun 11 '26
Should I just try to create another account? Idrk what I can do at this point.
I set up this account using a VPN because Iβm in the uk, didnβt realise that was an issue. I also have some older accounts I logged back into and immediately got locked out (old emails so no access).
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u/DragonfruitAway3014 Jun 16 '26
Am I shadowbanned or permanently suspended? Not even able to message the auto moderator to check my account status.
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u/hatsukashii CQS: Low Jun 16 '26
will my reddit days streak be gone as well? it seems like no matter how i interact, my streak is not moving.
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u/04dssrr Jun 19 '26
I stupidly left my VPN on months ago and got shadowbanned. Iβve been Appealing everyday too but it feels like you get no where π€·π»ββοΈ any advice? Or just keep appealing?
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Jun 20 '26
How can I start commenting? Created a new account for organic use yet each time I comment it doesnβt appear to others and Iβm not able to DM as well
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u/Resident-Bad-2104 Jun 25 '26
Hey, am I still shadowbanned? It's been a year. Can't appeal through phone for some reason today.
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u/Round-Hovercraft-885 CQS: Lowest Jun 26 '26
Am i still shadow banned? I saw my original profile picture come back otherwise it was automatically changed to the default bot blue picture.
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Jun 26 '26
Am I shadowbanned? Some comments appear but others don't and I got a post deleted by "reddit filter".
Maybe its my account age and most subreddits don't allow less than 24hr old accounts?
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u/cojoco γ Jun 26 '26
You're not shadowbanned, but you're right, low age low karma accounts will have trouble posting.
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u/cojoco γ Apr 26 '26
Click Here and then click 'Send' to have AutoModerator respond with your account status.
"What is a shadowban?"
Best Description You Will Ever Read
"Am I shadowbanned?" Learn how to check for yourself.
How To Tell If You Are Shadowbanned
Want to appeal your shadowban?
How To Appeal A Shadowban
"I'm not shadowbanned so why is my post/comment not showing up?"
Learn About Removals
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Contributor Quality Score
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