Ruby Roxx

NAME: Ruby Roxx
CENSORSHIP: Shadow, content and account ban

What reason was given for your ban?

Saying I “violated guidelines” but nothing I posted ever violated any guidelines.

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

Because I am a plus size, lingerie model.  If you are a slim lingerie model, or large account/celebrity, you can get away with posting so much more, almost anything, without any actions being taken against you.  I am all for rules and guidelines but they need to be the same, across the board, for ALL creators.

Were you able to appeal and what was the response?

90% of the appeals, were overturned and my posts were put back up, but the violation still showed on my account resulting in a serious shadow ban, and broken app features (for example, I couldn’t go live for over a year).  Since my verified account has been deleted, I haven’t heard anything from Instagram, but have been appealing every day.

What effect has your experience of censorship had on you?

Lost my VERIFIED account, with 500K followers.  This resulted in the loss of certain sponsors, and a 75% loss of income, plus, the loss of 10 years of posts, memories, photos, contacts and so much more.  It has affected my job and livelihood, but also affected me personally and my mental health has suffered greatly,

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

The double standard of how IG enforces their guidelines is so unfair and targets marginalized creators.  For example, Playboy magazine, and certain celebrities, can post full nudity, yet I, showing nothing more than what you would see at a beach, get deleted.  I post with a message of self-love, body positivity, and mental health awareness, but there is misinformation, bullying, hate, and violence posted every day on IG without any repercussions, but my posts are removed.  I have men send me unsolicited photos of their genitalia all the time, as well as aggressive sexual messages, but when those are reported, they come back as not violating guidelines.  There are DOZENS of fake/scam accounts pretending to be me to scam my followers, but they never get deleted or shut down when reported.

How is any of that ok, but my posts aren’t?