If you’ve been on the kinky or fetish side of social media lately, you are likely aware of Instagram’s efforts to censor and remove latex and rubber content on the platform. The thing is, latex and rubber aren't mentioned in their terms of service, and their reasons for taking posts down are often ridiculous at best.
This blog post isn’t intended as a rant against Instagram. Instead, I’ll be discussing this unwarranted censorship and the implications. I’ll also be sharing my experience with Instagram removing one of my posts that did not violate their terms.
Instagram is terminating latex and rubber accounts and deleting photos that do not violate the terms and conditions
Instagram isn’t abiding by their own terms and conditions. They’ve been systematically removing content and entire accounts who create content centered around latex and rubber clothing, latex and rubber fetishism, or similar interests.
Their terms and conditions are clear on nudity and solicitation of sex. Instagram isn’t the place for pornographic content.
However, Instagram has deviated from these definitions and has begun to apply these rules to content that just doesn’t fit the crime, so to speak.
According to Instagram’s recent actions, wearing latex is nudity. You read that right. People have had their posts removed for nudity when they are fully clad in latex and rubber with NO SKIN showing at all. With no latex sheath showing. These posts are being removed despite not violating the terms and conditions at all.
We aren’t talking about transparent latex clothing, either. We’re talking about latex that you can’t see through.
It isn’t just one or two cases. Numerous accounts that I follow have been terminated or temporarily suspended because a photo was in violation of the rules. Except they weren’t.
Instagram user VolatileCorruption had their account terminated without explanation or warning in early January 2022, as did many others.
One of my mutual followers also had a post removed for nudity despite wearing latex.
Instagram deleted my post for “soliciting sex”
In January 2022, Instagram deleted a post on my secondary/public profile Rubberium for soliciting sex. The photo in question featured me fully clad in black latex from neck to toe, showing nothing. I also had a gas mask on. Basically, I had 99% of my body covered with latex. I wore a Santa hat, as the photo was uploaded in December 2021.
You might be thinking, “But LatexRocker, maybe it was your pose that was suggestive.” You’d be wrong. I was just standing there. I wasn’t doing any obscene or inappropriate gestures.
What about the caption you ask? I was thanking everyone for following me and supporting me. No mention of sex. No mention of latex and rubber even, if I remember correctly.
In no way was I soliciting sex with my photo or my profile. I was sharing my love for latex and rubber in a non-obscene way. You’ll find that all of my photos are tasteful. By that, I mean I never show nudity or do any gestures that are inappropriate. I never write vulgar captions. Most of my descriptions are based on song lyrics.
Yet, I was targeted by Instagram for soliciting sex. Me. A man, wearing latex, doing nothing. Should I add that I’m a virgin? Yeah, Instagram got it pretty wrong.
I appealed their deletion, and they upheld it. And that was that. No chance to get the photo reinstated. Now my public account is one step closer to being terminated, even though I never violated their terms and conditions.
Appealing the decision
When my appeal failed, I took the opportunity to write to the Facebook Oversight Board about the unjust takedown of my Instagram photo. I explained my reasoning and how their terms and conditions say nothing about latex and rubber, and how I was not and have never solicited sex on Instagram.
The Oversight Board was a long-shot. They choose which cases to take up and which to ignore, much like the United States Supreme Court does. There’s a chance they will never even review it.
I won’t share what I wrote to them or any further details on the matter, as I don’t want it to affect the outcome if they do decide to review it. I could have done a better job sharing my feelings and really researching the facts, but I didn’t. So, hopefully the paragraphs that I sent will be enough. It isn’t likely, though.
They chose not to review my case in February 2022 or March 2022. However, that doesn’t mean that they’ll never review it.
What can you do to keep latex and rubber content visible on social media?
The best way to keep latex and rubber content visible on Instagram and other platforms is to continue to upload. Continue to follow and support other creators.
If someone’s account is terminated unjustly, be sure to report it to Instagram using social media like Twitter and by going to your settings to report a problem. If your account is terminated or a photo is deleted when it doesn’t violate the terms and conditions, appeal the decision to the Oversight Board. Write about it. Create a new account. Don’t give up. You can't create change by giving up.
Another word of advice: don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Don’t rely 100% on Instagram for building your audience. Be sure to create profiles on many different sites so that even if your account is terminated, you can still reach your following.
For example, I have 2 Instagram profiles. I also have a Twitter, a YouTube channel, a FetLife, a Tumblr, and this website. If one of my accounts was deleted, it would suck. But, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I have a following on multiple platforms to start rebuilding.
Instagram’s removal of latex and rubber fetish content isn’t right. It’s unfair to remove content by stretching what the terms and conditions actually say. Until they rectify this, we need to continue to stand up and let them know that their persecution of an entire lifestyle and culture is wrong.
What’s your experience?
I’d love to hear about your experiences with fetish content, specifically latex and rubber, being taken down by Instagram or other platforms. Please use the contact form on this site to get in touch, or reach out to me on social media @LatexRocker and @Rubberium.
