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.

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

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 evade the block called as block evasion by making a different account called as sockpuppetry, using a proxy server, or editing unblocked IP address while their user account is blocked.

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. In Wikipedia, users with blocked IP address or user account cannot be able to edit articles, create pages, and upload images and videos, making the site read-only by only reading the articles and viewing its source code when attempting to edit while the block is in effect.