DictionaryDictionaryTranslateTranslateGrammarGrammarThesaurusThesaurus +Plus+Plus Cambridge Dictionary +PlusCambridge Dictionary +Plus GamesGames Cambridge Dictionary +PlusMy profile+Plus helpLog out {{userName}} Cambridge Dictionary +PlusMy profile+Plus helpLog out Log in Sign up English (US) English {{word}}{{word}} {{#beta}} BetaBeta{{/beta}} {{name}} Meaning of shadowbanning in Englishshadowbanningnoun[ [ UU ] ..." /> DictionaryDictionaryTranslateTranslateGrammarGrammarThesaurusThesaurus +Plus+Plus Cambridge Dictionary +PlusCambridge Dictionary +Plus GamesGames Cambridge Dictionary +PlusMy profile+Plus helpLog out {{userName}} Cambridge Dictionary +PlusMy profile+Plus helpLog out Log in Sign up English (US) English {{word}}{{word}} {{#beta}} BetaBeta{{/beta}} {{name}} Meaning of shadowbanning in Englishshadowbanningnoun[ [ UU ] ..." /> SHADOWBANNING definition | Cambridge English Dictionary

Meaning of shadowbanning in English

shadowbanning

noun [ U ]

(also shadow banning)

us

/ˈʃæd.oʊˌbæn.ɪŋ/ uk

/ˈʃæd.əʊˌbæn.ɪŋ/

Add to word list Add to word list

the act of a social media company limiting who can see someone's posts (= messages or pictures on social media), usually without the person who has published them knowing:

Shadowbanning allows social media platforms to filter out accounts that don't comply with their terms.

Shadow banning affects the engagement rate of any account affected.

More examplesFewer examples

Most social media companies don't recognize shadowbanning as an official practice.
If you have noticed that the engagement of your account has dropped, you may be a victim of shadow banning.
The less you violate the terms, the more you minimize the chances of being affected by shadow banning.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Internet terminology

See more results »

(Definition of shadowbanning from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

What is the pronunciation of shadowbanning?

Browse

shadow map BETA

shadow market

shadow war

shadowban

shadowbanning

shadowbox

shadowboxing

shadowed

shadowily

Word of the Day

UK

/ˈmed.^əl/

US

/ˈmed.^əl/

a small metal disc, with words or a picture on it, given as a reward for a brave action, for winning a competition, or to remember a special event

About this

Blog

Glass half full: talking about optimism and pessimism

October 15, 2025

New Words

October 13, 2025

has been added to list

To top

Contents

English

English (US) Change

English (UK) English (US) Español Português 中文 (简体) 正體中文 (繁體) Dansk Deutsch