Instagram: @fromtherooftops.art
There are many social platforms for sharing photography, but none of them get reach in the United States as Instagram. The only problem is that Instagram is not an art-friendly platform. It is a algorithmically policed platform that is terrified of content that could scare users away from the platform.
Like any artist, I make things with the purpose of sharing. Contemporary photographers like Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts inspire me. You know these names. They are reputable art icons. But they could only post some of their images on Instagram today.
My Instagram feed is full of photographers and models I follow complaining about how “Instagram took down another photo.” Many artists feel entirely let down by Instagram. If you want to really hear some complaints, try the Threads app!
But Instagram does not purport to be an art-friendly place. It is simply trying to grow your dwell time on the platform. The more you hang out on Instagram, the more ads you are exposed to. Instagram’s primary business is not allowing you to share your images and videos with the world. Instead, it sells your data to its advertisers. You are what they sell.
Read that again! Instagram prioritizes profits over community. If its algorithms believe your content could scare users away from the platform, you will be suppressed. Some call this suppression a shadowban. It’s especially frustrating that you can’t speak to a human at Instagram unless you are a big advertiser.
Now, with this said, I am completely aware that Instagram is a company with the right to make its platform however it sees fit. The aforementioned artists who inspire me occasionally have adult themes. Not all Instagram users want to see things like nude bodyscapes or provocative posing. But other platforms have better technology for battling this. Meta (Instagram’s parent company) is one of the most successful tech companies – how can they not have superior algorithms?.
But here’s the rub—Instagram is not consistent with violators. At this time, my @fromtherooftops.art Instagram account is suppressed, and I have been told so in my notifications. Additionally, you cannot find my account if you search for it, nor will you see any of my items appear as recommendations. (If this has changed, it’s because I removed the offending photo.)
This is the screen that explains my punishment. The red arrow shows the offending images:
The offending images:
I can describe the images in words that are less scandalous or insensitive than any magazine cover in a grocery store checkout line. The first woman displays cleavage, but no more than a modern swimsuit. The third woman, with the flowers, has zero inappropriate skin showing. However, the second woman does show a slight amount of her backside, with great care taken to censor the particular items Instagram would generally be expected to censor.
Next, let’s look for a provocative photographer. I randomly discovered this photographer below. Nude art is present, with the slightest attempts at self-censorship.
But in this case, a search on Instagram revealed this artist with no problem. Why am I blocked for less serious violations, and this artist gets to survive?
To illustrate more unfairness by Instagram, while I was not able to post my three photos without suppression, Instagram was certainly fine to take my money when I paid to boost one of those posts. I call that extortion.
When you have an image that is too extreme for Instagram, they notify you with an option to appeal. I lose most appeals. I don’t know if my appeal goes to humans or more algorithms. I have no option for typing text to plead my case. I have written to Instagram support with no sign of help. I have tweeted to Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s leader, but there has been no reply.
Meta certainly seems to be allowing the poorly designed algorithms to play protector even though it is not qualified for the job. From a business perspective, I understand how much money can be saved by scaling your entire platform with algorithms. As time has passed, Meta, who also owns Facebook, has been criticized increasingly as a terrible organization with plenty of errors, excuses, and a lack of respect for its users. But Meta is still very happy to sell your data to advertisers. Again, this makes it a bad time to be an artist who is not in the business of bending to Instagram.
The lack of support from Instagram is telling. Could they improve this process? Absolutely. Will they? It costs money to improve things, even these issues that have frustrated artists for many years. I suspect Instagram feels they have us so addicted that we will do whatever they expect of us.
For me, the actual offense is not my photographs. It is Instagram’s greed and lack of artistic respect.