Instagram Relents on #Stripper Hashtag ‘Shadowban’ After Outcry (AVN)

Read the full article by Michael French at AVN.com

CYBERSPACE—Sex workers who use social media to share information and organize to advocate against censorship, for safety and other issues were alarmed this week when it appeared that the platform Instagram had cut off access to posts that used the hashtag #Stripper, according to a report by the site Jezebel.

But by Thursday morning, Instagram had apparently backed down, telling Jezebel that, “the hashtag #stripper can again be used and seen by the community in the spirit in which they are intended.”

“Instagram is shadowbanning stripper hashtags. The ability to share info publicly is a survival tool,” Journalist, Reese Piper wrote. “Without access to public strippers, I would have never learned techniques on how to stay safe in the industry. We live in silence—the internet is our only place to congregate.”

“Shadowbanning” refers to the practice by social media platforms of hiding or restricting access to posts from specific users, or covering certain topics, without actually banning or deleting those posts.

What actually triggered the #Stripper shadowban remains unclear, however, even after Instagram sent a statement on Thursday effectively rescinding the ban.

“The safety of our community is our number one priority and we spend a lot of time thinking about how we can create a safe and open environment for everyone,” Instagram said in the statement.