Medium: Photography, Self-portraiture

Censored by: Instagram

Was there a notification of removal and if so what was the reason given?: ‘Soliciting sex’

What date were you censored?: 12/16/2021

Were you given an opportunity to appeal? If so, did you appeal and what was the response?: Yes – upon reviewing my image, IG decided I am indeed ‘soliciting sex’ and deleted my work permanently.

Were you given the opportunity to appeal to the oversight board? Did you receive a code that worked?: The code worked; however, I never heard from the Oversight Board. It has been over 3 months.

What have the consequences been for you because of this removal? Please describe in best detail.: My account has been shadowbanned and my IG reach has been dramatically reduced.

Other comments: I am an artist friend of Tiffany Cole’s – we have a duo show at the Benjamin Eck Gallery in Munich this year. As you probably know, Tiffany, myself and our gallerist have been viciously targeted since December. The mass-reports started on the same day around the same time and have been going on for weeks with varying intensity. I believe a number of IG users are abusing the broken system, weaponizing the report button and Meta’s current policy to silence artists whose opinions don’t align with their own. For example, my work deals with the dismissive treatment of women – I have been very vocal about my pro-choice views; one of my images in particular appeared on banners during the protests all over Poland. I have dealt with a wave of threatening and disturbing messages; pro-lifers attacking my page would not come as a surprise. --- In December, I wrote the post below. The image I used was a phone snap of me standing next to a ‘non-controversial’ piece of mine at an exhibition. IG deleted it in February, calling it sexual solicitation. ‘My account has been targeted by an array of vicious reports, claiming I’m here to solicit sex and promote suicide (such a busy girl I am!). The only ‘corrupted agenda’ I have for this account is sharing my art – in a digital world filled with sexist and harmful portrayals of women, I wish to celebrate my body as a powerful storytelling tool. Photography has been instrumental in my journey of overcoming psychological trauma and embracing my physical skin disease. My self-portraits have resonated with so many people, who can understand that while some experiences are difficult to talk about, dealing with them through symbolic art can be incredibly healing. Why can’t you?’

Your website: http://inessrychlik.com

Your Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/inessrychlik/

Your Twitter: http://twitter.com/inessrychlik