Last week it was made public that Instagram had blocked users from searching the tag "curvy." Instagram told BuzzFeed that curvy is no longer searchable because "it was being used to share images and videos that violated Instagram’s community guidelines around nudity."
The body-positive women of Instagram, however, are having none of it.
After BuzzFeed pointed out on July 14 that Instagram had made the term "curvy" unsearchable, many women took to the social media platform to protest the ban. Using hashtags such as #BringCurvyBack, #Curvee and #EffYourBeautyStandards, women of all shapes, sizes and colors posted photos of their beautiful curves to prove their bodies will not be censored.
Bring it back . So when body acceptance is at an all time high, ground breaking movements are changing how social media and the world view us @instagram removes the hashtag because of "nudity"?. Excuse my language but what bullshit is that, the images that are shared on #skinny are not? All bodies are beautiful, ALL BODIES ARE BEAUTIFUL yet when young women are doubtful in themselves, or are looking for #bodygoals you literally stomp over the images they have to look at and see themselves. Shame on you, if you ban one then ban them all! #thighgap #skinny #whitegirls #blackgirls #longhair #shorthair #fatshion #bodygoals #thick #curvy #curvy #curvy #instagramhub #bringbackcurvy #curvy
A photo posted by The Curvy Cutie (@thecurvycutieblog) on
Jul 17, 2015 at 6:36am PDT
Instagram has a history of coming under fire for censoring women's bodies, specifically women's nipples, body hair and menstrual blood. There is certainly an argument to be made for preventing users from searching hashtags that are primarily populated by nudity, which goes against Instagram's community guidelines. However, the body-positive tag #Curvy has been blocked, while terms such as #Fatf**k and #Pussys (*warning* super duper NSFW) are still searchable.
As Instagram user Poppybirrd pointed out: "So Instagram deleted #Curvy because of pornographic content but the hashtag tittyf**k is still very much alive and active."
"We're still gonna post our big beautiful fat bodies and we will celebrate them whether you like it or not #BringBackCurvy," user Allasonlewis wrote in a post beneath her selfie.
User Chicainthecity23 perfectly summed up the body-positive protest, writing, "We exist!!"
Yes, #Curvy women do exist and they will not be silenced. Take a look at the gorgeous body-positive women below who are protesting Instagram's #Curvy ban, one photo at a time.
I have never been one to post these kind of photos online, but tonight I am and for one reason - the hashtag 'curvy' has been banned on Instagram in order to 'stop nudity under that tag', yet tags such as #thinspiration, #fat and #mia (bulimia) are still considered "okay". This behaviour is an absolute slap in the face considering all the body positive campaigns in the media lately. A real woman can be curvy, a real woman can be thick, a real woman can be skinny, short, tall or thin.. So why can't I publicly appreciate the body I have? #curvee #bringcurvyback #curvywomen #curvyfashion #curvygirl #swimwear
A photo posted by Isabella (@ladydarbanville_) on
Jul 20, 2015 at 4:02am PDT
Instagram is a shambles for deleting this word. You can't stop us! #Curvee
A photo posted by Steph ✌ ️ (@mcstephanton) on
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:03pm PDT
We exist!! #bringbackcurvy #curves #curvy #psblogger #fashionblogger #psfashion #curvee
A photo posted by Karen A. (@chicainthecity) on
Jul 19, 2015 at 7:37am PDT
I have rarely heard more nonsense than that Instagram had bannedthe hash #curvy and have a stupid excise that it was because it was used with photos containing nudity. That doesn't make sense cause of you follow the hash #labia you find over 5000 photos. Its beyond my comprehension. .. However e won't let that stop is cause we are #curvee and we are proud of it. #psbloggers #plussize #psfashion #psootd
A photo posted by Anne Lise (@mookie7x7) on
Jul 15, 2015 at 12:24pm PDT
So Instagram deleted #curvy because of pornographic content but the hashtag tittyfuck is still very much alive and active... #greatmoveinstagram #bringbackcurvy
A photo posted by Poppy (@poppybirrd) on
Jul 19, 2015 at 6:55am PDT
Fuck you Instagram for banning #curvy #bbw and #thickgirls. We're still gonna post our big beautiful fat bodies and we will celebrate them whether you like it or not. #bringbackcurvy
A photo posted by Allason Katharin Lewis (@allasonlewis) on
Jul 19, 2015 at 12:20am PDT
I was making sure I was able to capture all this fabulousness in my selfie #curvy #curvee #curvie #bringbackcurvy #thick #lushes #fabulous #bbw #sexy #classy #stillcurvy
A photo posted by Virgie (@msvirgie) on
Jul 18, 2015 at 10:42pm PDT
Just had to put something up today to show my disgust at the banning of the "curvy" hashtag. I don't know how Instagram can convince itself it was doing more good than harm here. The body positivity that has been bred from simple hashtags like these and curvy girl support systems is immensely important in ways I don't feel the company fully understands. YAAAAAS to all the ladies who will not let the ban hold them down #CantHoldBackMyCurves #honormycurves #effyourbeautystandards #goldenconfidence #curvee #curvatious #stillcurvy #cantholdusdown #pizzasisters4lyfe #thickchicks #bodyposi #positivity #bringbackcurvy
A photo posted by Janaya Bailey (@nayaroque) on
Jul 17, 2015 at 3:57pm PDT
Even though this is an older picture of me, according to #instagram, this picture will offend you. Just because I'm #curvy (This tag has been banned, btw). Way to #fatshame Instagram! Thanks for ruining this place for me! *gives the thumbs up* #curvee #bringbackcurvy #bodypositive
A photo posted by Lauren G. (@bellahaus13isdead) on
Jul 17, 2015 at 2:05pm PDT
I feel so annoyed and disrespected that Instagram took away the #curvy hashtag. You are allowing #fatshaming to continue. I have curves and they are beautiful! #bringbackcurvy #BringBackMixedGirls #effyourbeautystandards
A photo posted by Brittany Hernandez (@itsoprahh) on
Jul 17, 2015 at 10:45am PDT
Man. With so many issues and all of the controversy going on why is it so hard to just accept that people maybe want to be themselves and actually like themselves? Like why is that such a hard thing to swallow!? It disgusts me to no end that @Instagram banned curvy and CaitlynJenner because they don't know how to police their own application. However hashtags like fatpig, fatass, bitch, cunt, faggot, hate, anorexia, bulimia and all sorts of other crazy ass hashtags still fucking exist! They can stand behind their reasoning of it being misused by porn but tittyfuck is an appropriate hashtag?! #bringbackcurvy #StillCurvy Also still, fuck you Oprah! No I'm not one of those people that's a bandwagoner for a day or two and forget about that shit!! I'm rocking the fuck out of this crop top. Use some of that money to buy some fucking confidence. #rockthecroptop #pullingoffacroptop And lastly fuck all of these Caitlyn Jenner haters. Seriously! Someone who is happy in their own life has no need to even comment negatively on someone else's life. Especially when it does not involve you... At all! Y'all bitches need to find some inner peace and let go of shit. #Loveyourself #selflove #bodylove #positivebodyimage #loveyourbody #loveeverybody #effyourbeautystandards #nobodyshame #mylifemyway #effyourhealthstandards #losehatenotweight #fatgirl #curvee #fatandfabulous #chubby #bbw #plussizemodel #plussize #fatlife #behappy #beyou #fuckflattering #bodypositive #bopo #bigandblunt #pizzasisters4lyfe
A photo posted by Kandi Kalistar (@kandikalistar) on
Jul 17, 2015 at 8:13am PDT
My curves are a part of who I am, they help make me beautiful. I may not have the ideal body, but I'm comfortable the way I am most of the time and am learning to love myself. Curves are beautiful. #curvee #curves #curveygirls #curvywomen #curvesarebeautiful #swimsuit #beach #sunmer #beatiful #redhair #nofliter #nerdygirl #behappywithyourself #smile #beauty #nohate #bepositive #mybody #tattoos #tattoogirl
A photo posted by Jade Goucher (@jadeyface92) on
Jul 17, 2015 at 11:16am PDT
#BringCurvyBack because Instagram banned it. #Curvee #WilhelminaCurve • from my test shoot with @nicolelebriscreative
A photo posted by Olivia Wilson (@ohhdoubleyou) on
Jul 17, 2015 at 10:12am PDT
I love my curves, I embrace my curves, I wear clothes that showcase them to the fullest and make me feel incredible so like my friends are today, I also will be sharing the new #Curvee hashtag! #CurveTalk #CurvyDebate #curvygirlsvip #CurvyDiscussion #fbloggers #psbloggers #instafashion #WeAreTheThey #effyourbeautystandards #scarlettandjo
A photo posted by Mayah Thomas (@mayahthomas1) on
Jul 15, 2015 at 10:30am PDT
So Instagram has removed 2 of my favourite hashtags, curvy & booty, yet I scroll through other tags on Instagram and there are still inappropriate/pornographic images and videos being posted. Banning a hashtags which is attached to body positivity is not going to stop innappropriate content being posted, it just moves the problem elsewhere and before long, there will be no body positive hashtags left. I use the report function at least 10 times on a daily basis and surely Instagram can think of a better way to target the minority of people posting shit rather than banning hashtags and spoiling it for the rest of us. Just my opinion. #stillcurvy #effyourbeautystandards #honormycurves #honoryourcurves #CelebrateMySize #plusmodelmag #plus_isamust #plussize #plussizemodel #whatiwore #curvee #leopard #leopardprint #redhead #thick #thickgirl #thickthighs #ootd #skorchmagazine #styleatanysize #styleissizeless #datbootydoe #squats #fatchick #fatshion #pale #curves #curvygirls #beautywithplus #psfashion
A photo posted by Chelsea (@thechelseasmilex) on
Jul 19, 2015 at 8:37am PDT
H/T Cosmopolitan
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