On March 26th, 2018, Instagram released an updated version of its community guidelines which included a section on adult content policy enforcement. In accordance with this new guideline, several adult content publishers such as hustlers were given warnings about their posts that were deemed to be inappropriate and subsequently lost access to all features of their accounts. The policy states that any images containing "nude bodies" will be removed from public view, while those who post explicit photos or videos can be banned permanently from the platform. According to Instagram's blog post, "We want everyone to feel safe when using Instagram – this is why it has always been against our policies to allow photos, videos, and other media that show sexual intercourse, genitals, and pubic regions." This policy was met with mixed reactions from influencers in the industry who argued that it would cause them to lose followers and income due to censorship of their content. However, Instagram defended its decision saying that they wanted to create a safe environment for users across various age groups.
Instagram's update comes after a series of controversial incidents involving high-profile users posting lewd content on the social media site. Earlier this year, Jen Selter posted a photo of herself wearing a thong on the beach, prompting criticism and praise alike for her provocative display of body positivity. Meanwhile, fellow celebrity Kim Kardashian caused outrage by posting naked selfies with husband Kanye West during her pregnancy announcement shoot. Since then, Instagram has cracked down on nudity more than ever before with some arguing that it goes too far - including deleting a video featuring model Emily Ratajkowski showing off her breasts while breastfeeding her baby son Sebastian which she says is an act of "maternal art."
The new policy puts further restrictions on what constitutes as acceptable adult content on Instagram: images or videos containing nudity are now only allowed if they are shared within private messages between two consenting adults (18+), rather than being accessible publicly. Additionally, any accounts found to be sharing such material could have all features disabled – including the ability to comment, like photos or videos, post stories/direct messages - until they remove said material completely. Despite these changes, many influencers continue to use Instagram to promote sexual products/services without fear of punishment because there is no concrete definition of 'nude bodies'. Some suggest that this ambiguity may lead to inconsistent enforcement leading up to confusion among followers about what exactly is allowed under their policies.
In conclusion, despite backlash from users who feel targeted by these stricter guidelines, Instagram stands firm in its decision saying they want a safe environment where everyone can enjoy using the app regardless of age group preference or gender identity. While some believe it will lead to censorship and financial loss for those relying on explicit content to make money online, others commend them for taking action against exploitation while promoting body positivity amongst young people everywhere.