this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2025
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As the title says. I believe Reddit has been using shadow bans to quiet dissenting opinions that aren't inherently breaking TOS.

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[–] M1ch431@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Yes, but it's not just mods abusing automod to shadowban per-subreddit. Site-wide shadowbans have been a thing for years.

Reddit is a tool for social manipulation. That's not what it was founded on, but it all went down-hill when Aaron Swartz died.

[–] twinklefruit 1 points 3 hours ago

Yes, of course.

Don't bother with reddit. It's a censorship hellhole.

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago

Lmao my partner got shadow banned for asking in the city subreddit for tattoo artist recommendations. They just shadowban everyone

[–] lunatique@lemmy.ml 3 points 14 hours ago

1000% and its not unique to Reddit ,πŸ€

[–] ms_lane@lemmy.world 4 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

eh, when I suggested Ukraine start targeting Moscow they just outright banned me.

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago

Lmao yeah I guess I could see that to an extent. Still a silly reason to ban.

[–] MisterNeon@lemmy.world 29 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

This is Lemmy. Why give a shit about Reddit mods here?

Do you complain about Big Macs at Five Guys as well?

[–] pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip 2 points 16 hours ago

Do you complain about Big Macs at Five Guys as well?

Uh...I feel like I should try to save face by lying, and answering "no".

So no. I have not.

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I understand your point. Can't well complain about it there though can I? Moreso just interested to hear other people's experience and opinion on the matter.

[–] meekah@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

People complain about reddit on reddit all the time. And you're gonna find more relevant experiences when you're asking on reddit as well...

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I cannot ask on reddit because I am site wide shadow banned.

[–] meekah@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Make a new account? Using some free VPN if necessary?

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's ban evasion and would give them an actual reason to ban me.

[–] meekah@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

So what, apparently you're banned already anyways

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 27 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

No, I don't. Haven't been on Reddit for 2.5 years though, so why would I.

Stop torturing yourself OP. Move on.

[–] reagansrottencorpse@lemmy.ml 2 points 13 hours ago

Lemmy is better anyway

You're definitely right.

[–] TheAsianDonKnots@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 day ago (3 children)

16 year Reddit account, so much content given to them over the years, perma banned for hate speak a few days ago. Apparently saying people should support all innocent civilians (especially the children via PCRF) and make food and support flow… is hate speak. Fucking bootlicking cowards. I’m glad I got banned, fuck new Reddit.

[–] Blackfeathr@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago

Had an account since 2012 get perm banned last year because I dared to say Neo-Nazis don't deserve to enjoy anonymity. Made a new account and they found it again a few months ago. They really didn't like how much I hate Nazis, I guess.

I'm not in good company if I am participating in a platform that is staffed by Nazi sympathizers. So I finally said goodbye to that shitass website.

[–] foodandart@lemmy.zip 2 points 14 hours ago

I was a 14 years long redditor that was more into the arts and graphics and from the time of the IPO, my feed pivoted to much more rage-bait content and subs appearing on my homepage that were completely unknown to me. Definitely some site-wide fuckery going on, that's changed the nature of that beast. Moreso now since they have corporate investors and within the last week or so, a whole bunch of bad reports about the data not being used for AI training as much as they hyped it up. Methinks they're pivoting to the right in order to appease their investors..

Yeah, I started using it in high school. Like 2012. Shit is CRAZY.

[–] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Who cares? They officially support child predators. Not pedophiles who have never offended β€” those who actively prey upon children and have done so. Reddit says they're a protected group now, you can't even call for them to receive longer prison sentences. That's what they banned me for. AI, maybe, but upheld by a person upon appeal.

[–] foodandart@lemmy.zip 2 points 14 hours ago

AI, maybe, but upheld by a person upon appeal.

I honestly think those appeal responses are bullshit and no one is actually reading them. Maybe paid members will have their appeals looked at but I doubt anyone else does.

[–] Fyrnyx@kbin.melroy.org 5 points 1 day ago

No. Reddit uses shadow-bans to just about clear anyone who actually wanted to talk on that platform. They're always power tripping over something.

Reddit is a tool for psychological manipulation just like the other pop social.medias.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago

There’s been talk they’ve been doing this for over ten years now, so it wouldn’t surprise me. They usually just blatantly ban you though.

[–] Zerlyna@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I was banned from my community sub because of asking for the Sinclair advertisers. And there was nothing on the sidebar about ANY banning. Only that violating post would be deleted.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago

Very possible. Tangentially related, but deleted my account a while ago, went back to ask a question on a niche subreddit with a fresh account, and had my post shadow-deleted for lack of karma or whatever nonsense. Site is still riddled with bots despite all the high barriers to new users though.

It's very understandable having to use Reddit for some niche communities, but don't put yourself through it if you're getting banned just for having a different opinion.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't think this is a problem unique to reddit. This can affect anyone who gains the tiniest bit of power over others. I remember pissing a mod off who then went on to delete my stuff and ban me in an old forum for a local offroading group way back around the year 2000.

That's true, I guess I just hoped for better after using the site for over a decade. I figured this going public thing would lead to less offensive/violent content. I didn't think it would lead to my banning.

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's not clear whether you mean Reddit's administrators (sitewide moderation), or subreddit moderators.

As a subreddit moderator, I have used automoderator to "shadow ban" accounts engaged in spam or harassment that I believed were likely to create new accounts to circumvent regular bans. I'm sure some moderators in some subreddits have done the same to get rid of people they disagree with.

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Unfortunately, when I got shadow banned, I wasn't told who did it or why it happened. I responded frequently to askreddit questions and never said anything aggressive or offensive.

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I imagine you can figure out whether you are banned from one subreddit, or the entire site. That will tell you which category of moderator did it.

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Zak@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think they outsource the sitewide moderation, and much of it is automated, relying on signals like your IP address and the behavior of your web browser (assuming you were using it on the web). It's more likely their bot thought you're a bot than a human didn't like your opinions.

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Then why wasn't it corrected after months and dozens of submitted appeals?

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago

I suspect the appeals are also largely handled by an automated process. It's the same kind of experience people have when they get banned from Facebook or Youtube.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think reddit would do anything to amplify conservative talking points

[–] venusaur@lemmy.world -2 points 1 day ago

Yes and it happens on Lemmy too.