Let’s face it. It’s easier to blame an Instagram algorithm than admit your content is not working. Shadow banning is a great excuse to help your ego, but it’s not going to help your account.
Find out all you need to know about shadow banning here and ways to avoid it in the future.
What is Shadow Banning?
When a user is muted or deprioritized on social media sites (or forums) without receiving official notification, this is known as a shadowban.
Your posts, comments, or actions may become disguised or hidden; you may no longer appear in searches, or you may experience a decline in engagement since no one (including your followers) can see your content in their feeds.
You may not have violated the terms of service or done anything to warrant an immediate ban, but you’ve done something that the algorithm doesn’t like.
How Do You Know If You’ve Been Shadow Banned?
There is no “official test” provided by social media companies. However, certain checks can be undertaken to see if your profile has been hidden.
Look at your regularly used hashtags. If you have been shadow banned, there will be a message saying that some posts are “currently hidden”; meaning your use of the hashtag is not meeting, in this case, Instagram’s guidelines.
Another way is to look at Instagram Insights. If there is a sudden drop in engagement, then there is a small chance you have been shadow banned. Especially if the drop is major.
How Does Shadow Banning Affect Your Social Media?
While the shadow ban is definitely real, there is a misconception about how it affects your profile on a social media platform. It was never introduced to hurt accounts or to hide them; rather aiding in anti-spam policies.
But, how can you trigger being shadow banned? Well, it’s quite simple. Avoid broken or abused hashtags; for example, overused key phrases that could lead to spam or inappropriate content. And, always ensure you are adhering to Instagram policies. Yet, the shadow ban is still blamed by users, who do not want to admit their content just isn’t good quality. Why blame yourself if you can blame an anonymous outside source? Instead of researching why the post failed and learning from these mistakes.
There are many blogs dedicated to “The Shadow Ban Suppressing My Content” or “Instagram is Hiding My Posts”. All in response to a lack of engagement or a drop in likes.
More than ever, Instagram is an incredibly competitive space; full of businesses, influencers and advertisements. That is why it is important to keep content fresh, original and of high quality. Don’t just post for the sake of posting. The Instagram app is still evolving and there will be a vast amount of updates to come in the future. Ensure you keep up-to-date with the latest changes and vital news to stay ahead of the curve.
Be My Social
But, who has the time? For businesses, it is worth hiring an outside social media team, that understands the latest policies and trends to focus on. Whilst you are focusing on other aspects of your business, you can trust your social media is full of fresh and trendy content.
Be My Social offers a range of services to support businesses across the UK. Put your faith in the hands of a digital marketing team who are professionals in the industry. We promise to satisfy the Instagram algorithm; avoiding shadow banning.
For more information on our services, fill out our online form and a member of our team will shortly be in touch. Or, follow our Instagram for daily helpful tips on how to improve your marketing strategy.
