What is a shadowban?

^(To the best of my knowledge)

A shadowban is where you are not technically banned, however it's very similar as your posts and comments won't show up for anyone but you and in mod's spam filters. The major difference is that you are typically not informed you are shadowbanned.

There seems to be different schools of thought on whether reddit admins shadowban users site wide or not, but it seems they do this for bots.

Subreddit specific shadowbans can be done by mods, using Automoderator, but it's controversial.

Most agree it's OK for bot accounts and spammers.

Some use it for trolls and ban evaders. Ban evaders should be reported, but while waiting for action some shadowban users so their posts and comments no longer affect the community. This can buy time as the users will not immediately know anything is wrong. [Edit: new removal notices mean they'll be able to see their posts were removed if they're using redesign]

Many disagree with the use of shadowbans as it is seen as censorship.

Reddit would likely prefer bans, and ban appeals, as this is transparent and gives the users a chance to change their ways.

Shadowbanned users posts and comments do show up in the mod queue so can be approved individually.

Muting users is different. This only affects mod mail; a muted user cannot mod mail you for 72 hours. It's basically a time out.

Proper bans prevent a user from participating in your community (posts and comments) and they are informed it has happened.

As far as I understand it, both banned and shadowbanned users can still vote in your community.

Ban evasion | Account suspended | Banning and muting

Edit:

Side-wide shadowban only admins can do. It means your posts and comments don't show for anyone across all of reddit except you and in the spam box for communities you've submitted to. Mods may approve a few posts.

Site-wide ban only admins can do. You cannot participate on reddit, your profile disappears. You'd need to try the appeals process to sort it out.

Subreddit ban mods can do. Only affects your participation in the sub in question. Does not affect your profile.

Subreddit shadowban mods can do. Only affects your participation in the sub in question. It means your posts and comments don't show up in that sub except for you and in the spam box. Mods may approve a few posts.

​

Edit:

Automoderator guide