Facebook has been granted patent on shadow banning (patft.uspto.gov)

Article summary

The article discusses Facebook being granted a patent on shadow banning, a practice where a user's posts are hidden from others without their knowledge. The comments reveal that other platforms, such as Reddit, have been using similar techniques for years. The patent has sparked debate about its validity and potential impact on online communities. The discussion also touches on the differences between shadow banning and regular banning, as well as the use of automation tools in moderation.

Main themes

• shadow banning
• patent validity
• online moderation
• Reddit vs Facebook
• prior art
• automation tools

What commenters say

• Shadow banning is a common practice used by various online platforms, including Reddit, and Facebook's patent is therefore invalid.
• The use of automation tools, such as AutoModerator, can effectively shadow ban users without their knowledge.
• Regular moderators cannot shadow ban users across an entire website, only administrators or automatic spam detection tools can do so.
• The patent's claims are too specific and limited, and do not cover all implementations of shadow banning.
• Prior art, such as vBulletin and XenForo, exists and should have prevented the patent from being granted.
• The patent's validity is questionable, and it may be subject to challenge and rejection.
• Shadow banning can be seen as a form of censorship, and its use by online platforms raises concerns about freedom of speech and transparency.
• The distinction between shadow banning and regular banning is not always clear, and the use of automation tools can blur this line.