ALKARIM JADAVJI

What reason was given for your ban?

The content was considered too sexual in its expression but no further details given beyond tha,  just a suggestion to read the guidelines.

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

I think it was censored due to the fact that there is an aversion to seeing bodies beyond white bodies on Instagram. There’s a strange way the algorithm seems to work that allows more expression of white conforming forms which may be due to the inherent bias of the machine learning algorithm used.

Were you able to appeal and what was the response?

Yes and it was still denied.

What effect has your experience of censorship had on you?

I think it has limited my overall exposure and has led to my work being seen by fewer people forcing me to try and engage with my community in other new ways.

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

That bias exists even in a virtual medium and its effect lead to a similar inequity to what we see in real life.