Instagram has a very clear policy when it comes to nipples: if they're on a male, they're OK; if they're on a female, they're probably not OK. One account is challenging that, however, by making it impossible to tell which is which.
More specifically, Instagram's policy reads as follows:
We know that there are times when people might want to share nude images that are artistic or creative in nature, but for a variety of reasons, we don’t allow nudity on Instagram. This includes... some photos of female nipples, but photos of post-mastectomy scarring and women actively breastfeeding are allowed.
The counterargument given to this is that female breasts are not primary sexual organs, and therefore, their sexualization is primarily a societal, not biological one; thus, it's unequal treatment to hold them to a higher level of censorship than their male counterparts. "Genderless Nipples" has taken up this counterargument, posting closeup pictures of nipples so as to make their gender indeterminate:
The account has already gained 46,000 followers in just 6 weeks and seems to have made its point, as Instagram has already removed a post that contained a male nipple, with the account responding:
We just had one of our male nipples removed. Instagram, you can't even tell the difference between male and female nipples; who could!? So why even bother banning female nipples if they can be so similar?
What do you think? Is Instagram's policy unfair?
[via Paper]
It seems like a waste of time on his part. I have no problem with IG filtering out that stuff.
Yay for censorship! /sarcasm
Look. I got kids. I don't want them to see stuff like that so I'm all for "censorship" because 99% of people the times that someone wants to show a boob or a dong then it has nothing to do with "art".
Your kids will probably be damaged for life if they see a nipple. But all the killing and violence on TV/cinema are ok! I will never understand this view on why nudity is bad for you and why violence is ok.
I don't see any controversy here. Just another populist attempt at opportunizing off a topic making its way through news headlines. Instagram's site, Instagram's rules. That's the way I see it. It's unfortunate that social media platforms are constantly turned into promoting PC agendas. Share your pictures and move on. If those pictures violate their policy, find a platform that allows it.
Wow, people are desperate for a cause.
In a world of "microagressions" no cause is too small or niche.
It would be nice if IG would just have a NSFW filter.
Of course IG says it's because of Apple's App Store policies based on age ratings for apps.
"Microagressions" - I like that word. I'm going to use it when my wife asks me to clean up. "Don't give me that microagression."
It is absolutely unfair, but life is unfair. Obviously people have made great strides toward equality for all, and I'm very greatful for that, but At the end of the day if people don't like the policies, they can delete their accounts and refrain from using the service. Do they want someone coming into their home and telling them how they should arrange their furniture? Probably not
"The counterargument given to this is that female breasts are not primary sexual organs, and therefore, their sexualization is primarily a societal, not biological one"
I don't believe that's true. The biological need to raise a child are only the nipples, you don't need breasts to feed. - So what are the breasts for? To attract the male, which is sexual in nature. Sure, society amplifies the sexualization, but at its core, the breast is a sexual organ, the nipple only is not.
I guess the reason why nipples are censored is not about the nipple itself but that it prevents making the whole picture of the breast complete, which would sexualize the image. I think people just get hung up on the technicality of the term nipple (where there isn't a difference between male/female), when they ought to be thinking about the breast as a whole (where there is certainly a difference).
Breasts are considered secondary sexual organs and fMRI experiments have shown them to light up three similar areas of the brain as the genitalia, but they're not primary sexual organs. And yes, you do need breasts to feed a baby; that's where the milk is stored. The nipple is simply the exit point. That being said; I'd argue that society's role is bigger than it might be given credit for, especially given that female breasts are normalized in many cultures.
Not sure whether they classify primary and secondary sexual organs by their function but if you take it by the literal translation of the word sexual, then breasts will beat genitalia in terms of attraction.
Speaking of literal; the term breast, then sure, you need breasts and the nipples are part of it. Although, from the visual perspective (the sexual part), it doesn't matter whether you have smaller than A-cup "breasts" (basically a flat chest with nipples) or breasts in the range of C or D-cup. Breast tissue that stores milk is still present (albeit less with smaller breasts) and you can feed either way. That's why I say rather objectively that breasts (the ones that generally attract) are not needed to feed a baby, you'll be ok small/flat chested as well. - However, size makes a big difference (generally) when it comes to attraction. And even in a culture (where I had lived) where it's more normalized, breasts are still a sexual organ and do their part to attract male or female if you wish.
Our society (and many others) at large has determined that standard, fair or not. While there are arguments to be made on both sides, but that is beside the point. It is not Instagram that suddenly decided there was a difference.
I am also really sick of people saying the Instagram, Facebook, and others are trying to impose their morality through these sorts of rules. It's house rules. You want to be in my house (or theirs) there are some rules. They built the site, they have broad latitude to set the rules. If I don't want you posting nudity on the wall of my house or business, you aren't going to be welcome if you try to. It's the same for a social media site. They are not doing anything to prevent you from going elsewhere to see whatever you want. There are social sites that allow that, and plenty of other outlets for the sexual or non-sexual display of the human body. What is forcing one's morality on someone else is saying that the sites have to change to suit your views. If you don't like the rules, go play somewhere else. If no one likes the rules, the site fails.
Instagram is perfectly fine with African female nipples though. Plenty of uncensored photographs from Ken Hermann http://instagram.com/kenhermann
You should try posting in PornHub,