In an interview with NBC4i last week, Samm Newman claimed that Instagram "was my safe place because when I was there, I could share anything." The fact that the 19-year-old found acceptance through interacting with other Insta-users makes the deletion of her account even more maddening.
She endured bullying and self-esteem issues throughout middle school and high school. However, in college, she discovered an amazing support network of other ladies like herself on Instagram, who took part in the growing body positivity movement. She wasn't going to be ashamed of her figure anymore.
"Fat is not a bad word," she told NBC4i. "How confident can you be if you keep censoring yourself because people don't want to look at you?”
Yet, when she uploaded a picture of herself last weekend, it was promptly flagged by other users. In response, Instagram shut down her account claiming it violated their policy against mature content and nudity.
Are you laughing yet?
You see, anyone who uses Instagram knows that the policy against "mature content" is hardly enforced if the woman is conventionally attractive.
The fact that so many users reported her pictures and Instagram deleted her account without any real investigation demonstrates a growing hypocrisy on the photo-sharing app: As long as the girl is Sports Illustrated hot, then she can post photos in her birthday suit without any consequences.
Instagram reinstated Samm's account this week, but I'm still eye-rolling at the company's idiotic move.
What do you think of Instagram deleting Samm Newman's account? Tweet us @sofeminineUK.
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