Ban — is the blocking or another restriction of access to an account, content, feature, or service for violating platform rules.
Bans occur not only in traffic arbitrage. Users and content can be blocked on social networks, in games, on forums, marketplaces, advertising platforms, and other services. Depending on the platform rules, the restriction may be temporary or permanent.
What can be blocked
Instead of fully blocking an account, a platform may restrict only a specific object or feature:
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account — the user loses access to the profile completely or partially;
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advertising account — advertising campaigns cannot be launched or continued;
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page or community — content publishing or other features are restricted;
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ad or creative — a specific advertisement stops being displayed;
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domain — the website is prohibited from being used, for example, in advertising campaigns;
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specific feature — for example, publishing posts, sending messages, or commenting.
Main types
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Temporary ban — a restriction for a certain period. After it expires, access is restored automatically or after the platform’s requirements are fulfilled.
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Permanent ban (permaban) — an indefinite block with no specified end date.
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Shadowban — an unofficial term for a hidden restriction in which a user’s content or actions become less visible to others. For example, posts may appear less often in recommendations or search. At the same time, the account itself continues to work.
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Mute — a restriction on the ability to send messages, leave comments, or communicate in a chat while access to other features remains available.
In traffic arbitrage
In traffic arbitrage, bans are most often discussed in the context of advertising platforms. For example, an advertising account, ad, page, or domain may be blocked. As a result, the advertising campaign stops, and access to some work tools may be lost.
Reasons for blocking may include violations of advertising policies, prohibited content or offers, suspicious activity, spam, fraud, and other violations of platform rules.
If the block was applied by mistake, some platforms allow it to be appealed through an official appeal process. The possibility of restoring access depends on the specific service and the reason for the block.
