Is Social Media a Government Experiment? How Being Shadow Banned is Creating ‘Digital Prisons’

Last Updated on February 20, 2025

Are We Really Free Online? The Rise of ‘Digital Prisons’

Social media was once seen as the great equalizer—a space where voices could be heard, movements could grow, and injustices could be exposed. But what if that freedom was an illusion?

With the increasing prevalence of shadow banned content and algorithmic censorship, it’s clear that governments and tech giants are shaping what we see and say online. Instead of outright deleting content, platforms quietly bury certain voices, ensuring they reach fewer people.

But who gets to decide what’s visible and what’s erased? And why are certain political figures, celebrities, and activists mysteriously disappearing from the conversation?

What is Shadow Banning? A Conspiracy or a Controlled Reality?

Being shadow banned means your content is deliberately suppressed without warning—your posts don’t show up on feeds, your engagement drops and your audience stops seeing your updates.

While social media companies deny the practice, countless users—including activists, journalists, and even celebrities—have spoken out about being silenced when discussing controversial topics.

Shadow Banned and Government Control: Real-World Cases

• Russia: Singer Zemfira was blacklisted and had her music removed from Russian streaming platforms after criticizing Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
• China: Tennis star Peng Shuai disappeared from social media after accusing a government official of sexual assault. Her name was shadow banned, and any discussion of her vanished.
• India: Twitter was accused of suppressing posts about anti-government protests supporting farmers, allegedly at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
• Iran: Instagram and WhatsApp—some of the few non-state-controlled apps in Iran—were shut down to prevent women from organizing protests against hijab laws.

Even celebrities in the West have raised concerns:

• Rihanna faced backlash from the Indian government after tweeting in support of farmers, and reports suggest her name was down ranked in Indian search results.

why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S

— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 2, 2021

• Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid who speaks up about situations happening in Palestine have said there is a sharp drop in engagement on Instagram, fueling speculation of platform bias.

My Instagram has disabled me from posting on my story – pretty much only when it is Palestine based I’m going to assume.

When I post about Palestine I get immediately shadow banned and almost 1 million less of you see my stories and posts.

The Political Agenda Behind Algorithmic Censorship

Governments Disguising Censorship as “Protection”

Many governments claim that new internet regulations protect users—especially children—from harmful content. However, these laws often target political dissent, LGBTQ+ rights, and feminist movements instead.

• Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan passed an internet law allowing the government to jail journalists for spreading so-called “fake news.”
• UK: The Online Safety Bill was introduced to keep children safe online, but critics argue it grants the government broad censorship powers over social media.
• U.S: The Kids Online Safety Act has been accused of silencing progressive voices, especially LGBTQ+ and sex education content.

For instance, Kim Kardashian, who frequently uses her platform for prison reform advocacy, has had content flagged when criticizing the justice system.

Last week I had the opportunity to go visit the Department of Justice in Washington DC to meet with our United States pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer. We talked about some of the many men and women who have taken accountability for their crimes, worked hard to turn their lives… pic.twitter.com/kbPdmHw1VF

— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) August 26, 2024

Likewise, Chrissy Teigen, known for her outspoken views, has hinted at being shadow banned when her political posts suddenly stopped gaining traction.

Tech Giants: Silent Partners in Digital Suppression

• Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok claim to support free speech, but in reality, they prioritize government relationships over user rights.
• TikTok: Has been accused of favoring Chinese government-approved content while suppressing political dissent abroad.

Even Taylor Swift, known for her carefully curated online presence, faced speculation of suppression when her political endorsements in 2020 received significantly less visibility than her usual content.

Beyoncé, who has supported Black Lives Matter, said had seen politically charged posts get less reach, while negative media narratives about BLM are boosted by algorithms.

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A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

Who Decides What’s “Acceptable” to Say Online?

Social media content moderation is increasingly political. What’s deemed “harmful” depends on who is in power and what narratives they want to promote.

• Saudi Arabia: Citizens have been jailed for tweets critical of the monarchy, while government-backed voices thrive.
• Russia: Anti-war content is silenced, while pro-Kremlin propaganda gets algorithmic boosts.
• Brazil: During elections, social media favored right-wing posts while left-wing content struggled to gain traction.

Greta Thunberg, a global climate activist, has also accused social media companies of suppressing environmental content, preventing crucial conversations about climate change activism.

How Women Are Being Silenced in the Digital Age

Women, particularly activists, journalists, and feminists, face higher rates of algorithmic suppression than their male counterparts.

• Megan Rapinoe, who advocates for equal pay and LGBTQ+ rights, has had posts flagged for “sensitive content.”
• Angelina Jolie, known for her humanitarian work, has seen engagement drops on posts about refugees and war crimes.
• Emma Watson, a UN Goodwill Ambassador for gender equality, has had feminist speeches mysteriously disappear from trending feeds.

Meanwhile, male-dominated misinformation thrives, reinforcing that social media favors traditional power structures.

Breaking Free from the Digital Prison: What Can We Do?

1. Diversify Your Platforms
   Relying on big tech makes you vulnerable to algorithmic suppression. Alternative platforms like Substack, Mastodon, and Telegram offer more freedom from corporate censorship.
2. Push for Algorithmic Transparency
   Demand that social media companies disclose how their algorithms work. Organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation are fighting for data transparency laws.
3. Call Out Digital Censorship
   Use code words, alternative phrasing, and community-sharing strategies to ensure suppressed messages continue spreading.

Final Thoughts: Is Social Media a Tool for Control?

Social media was meant to empower users, but instead, it has become a government-controlled experiment in mass perception management. If celebrities, journalists, and activists can be shadow banned, what chance do regular users have?

The fight for free speech is no longer just about government censorship—it’s about demanding accountability from tech giants who have the power to erase entire movements without us even realizing it. If we don’t challenge shadow banning, the internet risks becoming nothing more than a corporate-controlled echo chamber.