Twitter will soon tell you if your account is shadowbanned

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk says that Twitter will soon show users their account status, including any shadowbans and the reason why, if applicable.

“Twitter is working on a software update that will show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadowbanned, the reason why and how to appeal,” Musk wrote on Twitter.

What exactly is a shadowban?

A shadowban is a tool that social media companies use to slow or limit the spread of unwanted content. Essentially, it’s a way to make a user invisible.

However, it doesn’t stop the account from posting. What it does stop is other people’s ability to see posts in the timeline.

Twitter uses this to de-amplify hate speech, vaccine misinformation, spam, and other things violating its terms of service.

The new tool will allow users to check whether their accounts have been shadowbanned and also offer the opportunity to appeal

The Twitter Files, according to Musk

Musk’s announcement came after a hand-picked journalist posted insider information about Twitter’s moderation efforts.

Framed as “secret blacklists,” the tools used by the company to prevent questionable and hateful content are no different from any social media site.

Even MySpace, in the nascent days of social media, realized that content moderation was necessary.

And moderators don’t have it easy. They are who h are often underpaid, under-supported, and often develop PTSD or other mental health issues due to the stressful nature of the job.

Musk didn’t specify when the new tool will launch or what it might look like. But many of his other announcements have been followed by some form of action, so there’s no reason to doubt that this one won’t come to fruition.

I can’t wait to find out whether I’ve been Twitter shadowbanned or if it’s just because my jokes are no good. Either way, we’ll find out soon enough.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Twitter Blue prices on iOS are reportedly increasing
• Twitter censored tweets in 2020 at request of Trump and Biden
• Kanye West banned from Twitter after tweeting image of swastika
• Musk says Apple never considered removing Twitter from App Store

Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.