Instagram censorship: Who are the guidelines really there to protect?

Instagram censorship
(Image credit: Digital Camera World)

Photographers all over the world have likely come under scrutiny at one point or another due to Instagram’s stringent censorship rules. Anything from art nude photos featuring a female nipples to posts regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, and now posts about abortion pills are being removed from the social media platform. But who is Instagram looking to protect, and how do its censorship guidelines affect the people who use the platform?

I’ve experienced the authoritarian manner of Instagram censorship for images I would never consider rude or risqué. A slight slip of a nipple is all it takes these days for Instagram to remove the post and send a message saying your post goes against community guidelines. 

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Hannah Rooke
Staff Writer

Having studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of the West of England Hannah developed a love for photography through a module on photojournalism. She specializes in Portrait, Fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. For the last 3 years Hannah has worked at Wex Photo Video as a Senior Sales Assistant using her experience and knowledge of cameras to help people buy the equipment that is right for them. With 5 years experience working with studio lighting, Hannah has run many successful workshops teaching people how to use different lighting setups.
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/features/instagram-censorship-who-are-the-guidelines-really-there-to-protect
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