Vicky

NAME: Vicky
CENSORSHIP: Shadow & content ban

What reason was given for your ban?

Nudity. Sexual content and child solicitation.

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

The first video was banned for nudity because the singer (Christine and the Queens) had nipple showing. The second video was banned only because the name of the song written on the video in the text was 3SEX – no nudity, and this one was banned for sexual content and child solicitation.

Were you able to appeal and what was the response?

Yes. I was ignored. I am getting repeated messages that I am in danger of my account being deleted.

What effect has your experience of censorship had on you?

FEAR. Instagram is notorious for removing accounts with a hint of female nudity, yet it allows abuse and harassment freely. Even if the nudity is 18th-century art, I still get shadowbanned. It is very stressful to expect my account to disappear any day without any warning. And I don’t monetise but I still put hours of effort into good content daily.

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

Banning the female nipple is misogynistic and there need to be better systems in place to catch sexual inappropriateness.