Permanbams

Permanbams is a term used in online moderation to refer to permanent bans of user accounts from platforms or services. It is a portmanteau of permanent and ban and is used in discussions to describe the most final form of account restriction.

Uses and scope: Common in gaming communities, social networks, forums, and streaming platforms. Permanent bans differ from temporary suspensions, which have fixed durations or are time-limited. Permanbams can prevent account creation, IP bans, device bans, and sometimes block associated profiles and payment methods.

Rationale and procedures: Decisions are typically made by moderators or automated systems after violations of terms of service, community guidelines, or safety policies — such as harassment, hate speech, threats, doxxing, illicit activity, or fraud. Some platforms allow an appeals process; outcomes vary and reinstatement is rare but possible.

Cross-platform considerations: Some ecosystems use shared authentication or linked accounts; a permanbams on one service can influence access elsewhere, especially within a family of products under the same company.

Criticisms and debate: Proponents argue permanbams protect users and deter abuse. Critics point to due process concerns, the potential for irreversible error, inconsistencies in enforcement, and hindering reintegration.

History and examples: The exact origin of the term is informal, with usage appearing in online moderation discussions during the 2010s and 2020s. It remains primarily a colloquial term rather than an official policy designation, with platforms describing bans as permanent or indefinite rather than using the branded term.