What is a Twitter shadowban?
A Twitter shadowban is when X quietly makes your account or posts harder to find, without telling you. You can still post and reply, but your posts may not show in search, your account may not come up by name, or your replies may be hidden or pushed down in threads.
It shows up as one of four things. Here's what each means, how the test above checks it, and what to do.
| Type | What it means | Our test | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search ban | Your posts don't show when people search X. The most common kind. | Our test: Measured | What to do: Pause bulk follows, bulk likes and repeated links. It often lifts once that stops. |
| Search suggestion ban | Your account doesn't come up when someone searches for it. | Our test: Measured | What to do: New or renamed accounts take a while to appear. Otherwise, check again in a few days. |
| Ghost ban | Your replies are hidden from other people. | Our test: Estimated | What to do: Same as a search ban: stop anything that looks automated and keep posting normally. |
| Reply deboosting | Your replies sit under "Show more replies". | Our test: Estimated | What to do: Avoid many quick replies in a row, and keep replies on topic. |
How do I know if I'm shadowbanned on X?
Ask a friend to search X for your recent posts, or use the test above, which does the same from outside your account. If your posts and your account both show up in search, you're very likely not shadowbanned. If either is missing and your account isn't brand new, X is probably limiting it.
How to avoid a shadowban
- Don't follow, unfollow or like in big bursts.
- Don't post the same text or link over and over.
- Be careful with bots and tools that act for you.
- Post at a steady pace instead of in bursts.
If reach is low but the test passes, the posts are the likelier cause. Postel finds what's working in your niche and helps you write posts in your voice for LinkedIn and X. You can also see how your profile looks to others or search X for your own posts.