AdeY

NAME:  AdeY
PLATFORM & USERNAME:  Insta – @__adey__
CENSORSHIP:  Account removal, content removal, shadowed ban

What reason was given for your ban?

Multiple but normally revolves around making the platform unsafe because they state my work is sexually explicit, sexual solicitation, offering sex etc etc. My work is none of these. I have been fighting this battle for many years and even wrote a public letter to Instagram.

Why do you think your post(s) was censored?

Because I work with the nude body. My photography however works to disassociate the automatic association of nudity = sex and my images are not sexually explicit in any way! I even censor images that don’t need censoring to try and help but this only sexualises the images and changes how one should interpret them.

Were you able to appeal and what was the response?

I have appealed many many times and only had 1 reinstated.

What effect has your experience of censorship had on you?

It’s anxiety inducing every time I post something. I see it as a necessary evil unfortunately as it is my only way to inform people about what is happening with my work. Every time I open Instagram I am convinced my account will have been removed again. It’s definitely not good for artist’s mental health who have to fight these battles.

What’s one thing you want people to know about this topic?

Instagram’s safety guidelines are actually harming humanity and distorting our perception of body image.