Medium: Mixed Media

Censored by: Instagram

When were you censored?: April 2018 - Current

Was there notification of removal and, if so, what was the reason given?: Yes, violating their anti-female nipple community guidelines.

Was there the opportunity to appeal? If so, did you appeal and what was the response?: Yes, no response was given after multiple attempts.

What, if any, were the consequences of the removal for you? Please give details.: Photo taken down and threatened to delete account if continued to post content. This resulted to limiting the amount of content posted on social media in fear of being completely erased.

Comments: With the recent changes in the algorithm, Instagram has targeted women, minorities and members of the LBGTQ+ community. This brings to question not the algorithm itself but its creators. Why does it appear to favor content that is acceptable to white males and leaves out other voices. How come a photo of a topless female in a nonsexual pose is banned, but photos of women being objectified are ok? Is the patriarchy somehow behind the algorithm? In protest against this bias, and to challenge the taboo against showing female nipples I created the Breast Shirt, a t-shirt printed with an image of one’s own breasts. Wearing a Breast Shirt in public helps to desexualize and normalize the female nipple, and empower all genders to silently protest against these embedded double standards. According to the community guidelines, images demonstrating a protest are allowed, however most Breast Shirt posts are taken down within seconds. The only way they are allowed is by covering the nipple. In response, I repost the image with the middle finger emoji covering the nipple showing that Instagram would rather see me flip them off than see my nipple.

Artist Instagram: @ruizfineart