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. by Crazy Train McGraw January 20, 2022
Get the Shadow Simpingmug. A reactive emotional pattern that develops in response to the rubber band effect. When one partner repeatedly snaps back into the relationship, the other—wary of the cycle—begins forming secret emotional or romantic connections. Shadow banding is the quiet stretch: a hidden coping mechanism born from mistrust, grief, or emotional exhaustion. It’s not about cheating—it’s about survival when the relationship feels unstable or unsafe.
After she came back and ran off the girls I was dating, I started shadow banding—keeping quiet connections just in case she left again.
by Briton Phillip September 3, 2025
Get the Shadow Bandingmug. by Big-Lou June 6, 2004
Get the shadow-walker_mug. A friend who follows you around whilst shopping, potentially because they have no sense of personal style or space. Highly annoying. When you ask their opinion they will often say what they think you want to hear, rather than their genuine belief, lest it be 'wrong'.
by sweetchillisauce January 9, 2010
Get the Shadow Shoppermug. 1. the action of shadowing someone at school on the fifth of the month.
2. a phrase to fill up space when you have no idea what to say...or when you're trying to confuse people who are totally out of it during christmas vacation and school is the last thing on their minds.
2. a phrase to fill up space when you have no idea what to say...or when you're trying to confuse people who are totally out of it during christmas vacation and school is the last thing on their minds.
1. she's going to shadow the fifth.
2. What is she doing? I have no idea, probably shadowing the fifth.
2. What is she doing? I have no idea, probably shadowing the fifth.
by chuchu tran July 29, 2008
Get the shadow the fifthmug.