OTTAWA, Ontario — After We-Vibe's Instagram account was shut down earlier this week, the pleasure product manufacturer has fired back at the social media giant, launching an #UnmutePleasure campaign and rallying industry support.
In an open letter posted on their blog, the brand calls for the restoration of their account, citing a number of Instagram's own policies on fostering "a positive, diverse community" as grounds for reinstatement.
According to We-Vibe, the account was disabled without warning, vaguely citing a "violation of terms of service," but without any further specification provided.
"We have been proponents of pleasure-positivity for over 10 years and in over 50 countries by providing products designed, tested and recommended by experts for couples and individuals that help bring them closer, inside and outside of the bedroom," reads the post. "We have evolved over the years, have grown and learned from our fans and friends in the community, and are proud to be an industry leader. Now, we’re uniting with the rest of our community to stand up against Instagram’s censorship of pleasure-positivity."
“This is bigger than We-Vibe,” said Denny Alexander, head of communications. “Instagram’s censorship and shutting of sex-positive accounts is affecting our whole community. We started this campaign to bring attention to the issue and to act as a rallying point for the industry. We’re asking retailers, educators, bloggers, and other brands to stand with us and tell Instagram that it’s time to #UnmutePleasure.”
The shuttering of We-Vibe's account is the latest in a stream of adult performers, sexual wellness brands and sex-positive accounts to be booted from the platform in what many describe as a targeted, discriminatory campaign to purge Instagram of adult content.
Labeling Instagram's discriminatory practices as "outdated" and based on "sexist views," We-Vibe is now calling on supporters to share the #UnmutePleasure image on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
"Pleasure and intimacy should be celebrated as an essential part of our human experience and integral to our wellbeing," asserts the post. "Tag Instagram and tell them why it’s important to foster sex- and pleasure-positive voices, like We-Vibe, on the platform."
Click here for XBIZ's ongoing coverage of censorship in social media.
