Instagram has some explaining to do.
It seems that the social media channel is targeting plus size women.
It has become evident with many plus size women noticing that Instagram has been deleting posts and accounts when posting images showing them in lingerie, swimwear or semi-nude.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bok2ImJBGbK/?taken-by=laceeangelmodel
They have placed shadow bans on accounts and also have been limiting appearances on hashtag searches. Instagram has been basically restricting who sees this content and this has been happening for months now.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bok1O1UBALX/?taken-by=horror.whore_
Instagram states that the reason behind this is because those images do not abide by their guidelines.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bok9bPWAAnE/?taken-by=reiinamarie18
However, thinner women post more provocative images and are not penalized in the same way. If these images are not appropriate for social media, shouldn’t ALL images be removed and those accounts penalized?
https://www.instagram.com/p/Boj1icSnVqI/?taken-by=kimkardashian
So this has led to many feeling as if Instagram is being fat-biased.
Sarah Rosen and Lou Xavier have had enough and decided to fight back with their #FatisNotaViolation movement, which they describe as a way “to fight against Instagram’s erasure & censorship of non violating posts of large and fat bodies“.
The two fat positive advocates put out a call on Instagram, asking plus size women to post images of themselves in whatever level of undress they were comfortable in on Friday, October 5th and tag it with #FatisNotaViolation.
And of course, plus size women got into formation and posted away!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BokXJVkFbzu/?hl=en&taken-by=saucyewest
https://www.instagram.com/p/BolIXF9h5zd/?tagged=fatisnotaviolation
Even the guys joined in…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnPDhgkh0va/?taken-by=jordandrab
We are in awe of the solidarity of these women and men. The hashtag currently has almost 1K images under it and we expect to see much more in the coming days.
This hashtag movement is not only sending a message to Instagram that it’s not okay to censor fat bodies from being seen but it’s also reminding us all that we are worthy of taking space. It doesn’t matter what you wear. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes and all those bodies should be accepted in any form. This isn’t glorifying obesity. This is about glorifying self-love and acceptance. And treating all with respect and fairness.
Instagram has not issued a statement yet. Stay tuned to the blog for more updates on this.
What do you think of Instagram’s action against plus size women and the hashtag movement #FatisNotaViolation? Follow us on @plusmodelmag and let us know!