“Shadowban” is an informal term for reduced visibility. A drop in reach does not by itself prove a penalty. Check whether the platform has recorded a violation or recommendation restriction before interpreting your insights.
Instagram explains that content may be allowed on the platform without being eligible for recommendations. Eligibility also does not guarantee that content will be recommended. These distinctions help separate a recorded measure from an ordinary weak result.
How to check your status
On Instagram, open Account Status. Professional accounts can check whether their content and profile may be eligible for recommendations to non-followers. Follow the review or appeal options shown there.
On TikTok, open TikTok Studio → More tools → Account check, or Settings and privacy → Support → Safety Center → Account check. This shows issues affecting login, posts, comments, profile editing and direct messages. Also check any For You eligibility notice attached to a specific post.
On Facebook, check the notices and status of the affected profile or Page. Our sanctions reference distinguishes distribution limits from disabled features.
What insights can tell you
Compare similar posts over similar periods: total reach, non-followers reached and traffic sources. Changes in format, audience interests or posting frequency can also change results.
There is no universal percentage drop that proves a shadowban. Failing to find a post in a hashtag search is not sufficient proof either: results can depend on the viewer and how they are ranked.
What you can do
- Save the notice, date and affected post.
- Read the specific rule the platform cites.
- If the decision is wrong, use the available official review process with a short explanation and evidence.
- Review connected apps and revoke access for unauthorised automation services.
- Keep a copy of the content before editing or deleting it. Follow the platform's instructions for corrections.
- Track status and performance separately. A reversed measure does not automatically restore previous reach.
Do not pay for a promise of “guaranteed removal”. Neither buying an ad nor taking a fixed number of days off is a proven universal way to restore organic reach.
If a specific feature has been disabled, see our article on restrictions. If you cannot identify the issue, send your case for a free initial assessment. The platform decides the outcome of an appeal.
Compare reach without jumping to conclusions
Choose a comparison period that includes more than one post. Do not compare your most successful video with an arbitrary new post. Compare similar formats and note changes in topic, language, posting times or intended audience. Establish what changed before explaining it as a penalty.
Record status information separately from performance data. For example: “There is no active Account Status notice” and “Non-followers make up a smaller share of people reached.” Both observations can be true. The second does not invalidate the first or prove a hidden penalty. If there is a notice, save it with the date and affected post.
Check whether you are looking at organic or paid results. A campaign ending can change the overall picture without a new restriction. Also check that you are comparing the same metrics. Views, accounts reached and interactions describe different things; a lower value for one does not necessarily mean the same change in the others.
What to submit when requesting review
Start with the specific decision you dispute and explain why you believe it is wrong. Include context for the post where the form allows it. Keep the original image or video, publication date and notice text. If there is no decision or review button, do not invent a violation to fit a form.
For a technical issue, describe how to reproduce it: which menu you open, what you expect and what appears instead. Redact other people’s personal information from screenshots. Never send passwords, backup codes or two-factor authentication codes. Getting help organising the case does not require giving those secrets to a consultant.
Record subsequent profile changes as well, so that each new check can be connected with a specific action and date.
Official sources
Checked on 15 October 2026. Menus and available procedures may differ by account and app version.