Over the past few days Instagram has suspended accounts of major names in the sex positive community such as Klub Verboten, Slut Social, Torture Garden, Jane Grey Official, Andreena Angela, The Fetish Archives and Cybertease.
These accounts were doing zero harm in their plight to spread sex positivity. They were progressive & educational, they were about improving sexual wellbeing and opening up conversations and creating spaces where people can express their sexual identity.
It’s no secret that in recent years Instagram has tightened its sexual censorship, banning any sort of content surrounding sex, from sex education accounts to sex toy businesses, and even accounts not discussing sex, but simply accounts featuring bodies Instagram deems too explicit to be displayed.
A common occurrence is that women with bigger breasts have their posts removed in comparison to a woman with smaller breasts posting the exact same content. This goes beyond sexual censorship. This is an attack on women and an attack on the identities of those who don’t fit the societal norm.
It’s sad, not to mention shocking that we still live in a society that is so scared to discuss and be open about sex and the human body (two of the most natural things in the world), and that this fear can have such an awful impact on the lives of those trying to make positive change.
The suspension of an Instagram account might seem like something silly to complain about, especially to an older generation or those who are more disconnected from social media. But Instagram has become much larger than an outlet for narcissism or voyeurism.
It’s a vessel for education, especially among the younger generation. And it’s a huge platform for business- it’s how companies survive, and consequently, how people survive.
In this day and age the suspension of an Instagram account can have a devastating effect on businesses and the lives of the people running them.
It can take years and years of hard work to build up a real following and to have it taken away in the click of a button is grossly unethical.
The worst thing is that this censorship isn’t applied consistently, and many marginalised groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, women, and the sex worker community feel particularly at risk of account suspension, whilst others, particularly big-name celebrities are often let off the hook.
In today’s increasingly hostile climate towards the sex-positive community, Sensuali offers a space to explore your desires and advertise your eroticism free of shame and stigma.
We welcome those from all walks of the sexual spectrum, whether you’re a shibari pro, a sensual masseuse, an erotic artist, a spicy content creator or a sensual dancer – you are always welcome, and we will never ostracise you for being you.
How to Protect Yourself
For the moment, if you are trying to protect your account from suspension, it’s a good idea to avoid any sexual topics in your posts and DMs, any spicy links, any nude-ish content or fetish related content, and to filter through your existing posts and archive them (this is temporary and you can recover them at a safer moment).
How to Help ❤️
For any account that have been suspended, you can:
- Open your Insta settings
- Select ‘Help’
- Select ‘Report A Problem’
- Ask them to restore @nameofsuspendedaccount and give reason as to why it doesn’t break regulations.
In the meantime, follow the backup accounts of those suspended and suffering to provide support and get updates.
Featured photo source: Klub Verboten.
