Mike Balaban

Medium: Photography

Censored by: Instagram

Was there a notification of removal and if so what was the reason given?: It was hidden. No notice was sent. I have had photos just disappear. Then, I find them under “account activity”. I challenge the deletions and sometimes prevail. They are then reinstated. But, they still are listed as “inappropriate” and result in my page no longer being promoted to non-followers. The content is typically not erotic and less so than so much other content that remains posted on other pages. Mine has. become targets.

What date were you censored?: January 10, 2024

Were you given an opportunity to appeal? If so, did you appeal and what was the response?: Yes. One photo was reinstated but it still listed as “inappropriate”, even though it doesn’t violate their community standards. I only got an acknowledgement of “thank you for bringing this to our attention” on the other photos which remain listed as inappropriate.

What have the consequences been for you because of this removal? Please describe in best detail: My page is no longer eligible to be shown to non followers. Whereas I used to get 20+ new followers per day from such promotion, my follower base began shrining. I urged followers to post a story about my page and 20 did, bringing me 150 replacement followers. Still, I feel targeted, punished for images that are not in any way pornographic and which are more being and less erotic than is much other content which never draws the platform’s attention and remains posted. FYI: ALL of my pics which have been deleted by IG were previously posted and accepted, remaining on my page in earlier posts. Yet, suddenly now, they are inappropriate. IG claims to be even handed and equal in its treatment of pages, but it clearly fails very short of any such equity in its application of standards.

Your website: http://BAMMER.co

Your Instagram: http://bammer47

Your Twitter: http://bammer47

Meta/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.balaban?mibextid=LQQJ4d