Shadow ordering is a variant of shadowban. Instead of hiding your posts completely, a social media platform will send them to the ends of lists where few are likely to see them. At the same time, they lie to you: tricking you into thinking your posts are doing better than they are.
For instance, when you leave a reply on Twitter and then look at the reply page, your reply will be right at the top. However, if you then look at the same page while logged in to another account, you might need to scroll page after page to see your reply.
In some cases, you might need to click 'Show more replies' to find your reply. Twitter calls tweets after that link 'LowQuality'. They have a second 'AbusiveQuality' section even further down.
Only in rare cases does any of this make sense. Twitter usually elevates low-content replies while suppressing higher-quality content. Their ranking is based more on popularity, the number of people who block you, a desire to protect verified users from dissent, etc. Only in some cases is this based on ideology: in the USA, both liberals and conservatives are heavily impacted by shadow ordering.
For instance, when you leave a reply on Twitter and then look at the reply page, your reply will be right at the top. However, if you then look at the same page while logged in to another account, you might need to scroll page after page to see your reply.
In some cases, you might need to click 'Show more replies' to find your reply. Twitter calls tweets after that link 'LowQuality'. They have a second 'AbusiveQuality' section even further down.
Only in rare cases does any of this make sense. Twitter usually elevates low-content replies while suppressing higher-quality content. Their ranking is based more on popularity, the number of people who block you, a desire to protect verified users from dissent, etc. Only in some cases is this based on ideology: in the USA, both liberals and conservatives are heavily impacted by shadow ordering.
"Look, my reply to the GOP is at the top of the list!"
"Uh, no. I'm logged in to my account and I had to scroll 20 pages to see your tweet. They tricked you using shadow ordering."
"Uh, no. I'm logged in to my account and I had to scroll 20 pages to see your tweet. They tricked you using shadow ordering."
by 24Ahead January 6, 2023
Get the Shadow orderingmug. by NSegaXtra May 2, 2023
Get the Raid: Shadow Legendsmug. The biggest loser of all time. This person is ugly. Has no friends. A big forehead. Also an ipad kid
by ThisIsTheTruthNoCap December 6, 2024
Get the Shadowmug. by Chrimson85 July 4, 2025
Get the Chasing Shadowsmug. 
The beginning of a mustache when it becoming visible, yet is still not long enough to be considered a "dirt stash".
by EWT4Life December 7, 2010
Get the shadow stashmug. a group of three men in a single room in the dark, sorta like an eyes wide shut situation but with the bros
by 21kkn March 22, 2021
Get the shadow triadmug.