Block (Internet)

This article is about blocks and bans for the entire internet. For Wikipedia's policy on blocks and bans, see Wikipedia:Blocks and bans.

A block (known as UIB when referenced to being blocked from editing Wikipedia) is action taken to stop certain people having access to information. If a website activates a block based on the internet protocol address (IP address) of a user, that block can effect other users that share the address. Some blocked users try to get around the block by making a different account or using a proxy server.

An open proxy IP address has been blocked from changing Wikipedia.

Effects

Blocked users may be completely unable to access all or part of a site's content, which is usually the case when censoring or filtering mechanisms are responsible for the block. Under a shadow ban, a user is given the false impression that their content is still being posted to the site, when in reality it is being hidden from all other users.