Instagram has angered quite a few people with its latest ban on the search for the hashtag curvy. That’s right, of all things Instagram could block, they decided to block the searching of #curvy, and they have a logical explanation, though many are simply not buying it.
According to CNN, Instagram reportedly decided to block the search for the term curvy because it was allegedly being used for porn and therefore violated the site’s terms of services. Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Instagram confirmed to Mashable that the social media platform did in fact ban the search for #curvy because it was being used inappropriately.
“I can confirm that we did block the hashtag #curvy. It was being used to share content that violates our guidelines around nudity. Please note that the block has nothing to do with the term ‘curvy’ itself.”
While the ban may not have been because of the term itself or the meaning behind it, that didn’t stop users from becoming outraged, especially the women who often used it as a way of promoting a positive body image.
#curvy is not a dirty word @instagram I’m not ashamed of mine. So here’s one of them. #curvee pic.twitter.com/hJyHG1yaSe
— Carrie Armstrong (@CarrieArmstrng) July 18, 2015
How ridiculous to ban #curvy * on Instagram! Love the #curvee movement. https://t.co/GJSIrzoEN7 — She Might Be Loved (@GeorginaGrogan_) July 16, 2015
Curvy!! That’s what I am!!! #curvy #curvee #curveegirl #curvygirl #vintagegirl #psbloggers #psvintage … https://t.co/2TfGhFV1JR
— secret+sizegoddess (@SecretPSGoddess) July 15, 2015
@instagram banning hashtag curvy is RIDICULOUS! #curvee pic.twitter.com/m7ujDyP0po — vickygriffiths (@redhead3uk) July 15, 2015
One activist has spoken out and told HuffPost UK Lifestyle that Instagram’s recent ban is simply another backward step because it “removes yet another way of viewing women’s bodies in a respectful light.”
“They have banned images of breast feeding, stretch marks, domestic images of menstruation and classical art works that respectfully portray nude women and now they ban the hashtag #curvy. While they allow b***h, fat slag, hookers, thin — this is not a safe platform for women and especially young girls (as we all know Instagram is populated with nude images of young women effectively selling themselves sexually).”
Women who identify as curvy have not taken this Instagram ban lightly. In fact, thousands of women both on Instagram and Twitter have decided to fight back by using #Curvee. According to Elle , women have also been using the hashtags #bringcurvyback , #everybodyisbeautiful, and #effyourbeautystandards in an effort to battle the Instagram ban on curvy.
What did you think of Instagram’s ban on #curvy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
[Image via Yeamake / Shutterstock.com ]
