Censorship and body-shaming in social media must stop

A call to action from the International Naturist Federation to end censorship and body-shaming

It appears that in recent days Meta has implemented a new algorithm on Instagram and Facebook that has become significantly more stringent, resulting in the deletion of hundreds of naturist posts. This sudden change has caused considerable concern within the naturist community, as many posts promoting body positivity and non-sexual nudity have been removed. The new algorithm appears to lack the nuance needed to differentiate between explicit content and naturist expressions, leading to widespread frustration.

But this is not new. For years, naturists have found their posts and accounts removed or shadow-banned, limiting their ability to share their experiences and connect with like-minded individuals. This suppression hinders the growth and visibility of the naturist movement.

The distinction between naturism and art versus pornography is notoriously difficult to codify into a clear and consistent rule. What one person may view as a naturist expression or a provocative piece of art, another might see as inappropriate or offensive. This subjectivity is compounded by cultural, social, and personal differences in interpreting visual content. The lack of a universal standard makes it challenging for platforms and regulators to create guidelines that accurately differentiate between the two. Consequently, automated moderation systems often struggle to make these nuanced distinctions, leading to the inadvertent censorship of legitimate artistic and naturist expressions while sometimes failing to catch genuinely explicit material.

Thus, the distinction lies in the intent of the creator and the perception of the viewer. A classical nude painting on social media can therefore be both art or pornography depending on the intention of the person posting and the way another views the image. Similarly, an image of a naturist adult or child can absolutely be innocuous and part of an important discourse, even if some people who view it do not see it that way.

Meta’s exception for artistic nudity on platforms like Instagram and Facebook is often abused by users, leading to significant challenges in content moderation. While the policy is intended to allow for the sharing of legitimate artistic expressions, some users exploit this exception to post content that borders on explicit material.

An example is the Facebook user “naughty padosan” who uses the art exception to post a constant stream of imagery that is clearly intended to appeal to those with salacious interests. While most of the images are indeed artistic, the intent of the person posting is other than artistic. The people following this account are also likely to be those who perceive sexual gratification in objectifying the individuals portrayed.

Naturism is in the same situation. For as long as the movement has existed, the name has been misused by pornographers in order to give legitimacy to their images. The abuse of our imagery or the incorrect labelling of their pornographic images does not make our photos and videos inappropriate.

Meta needs to make an exception for naturism similar to its exception for artistic nudity. Just as artistic nudity is allowed to foster creativity and cultural expression, naturism should be given the same consideration to promote body acceptance, inclusivity, and diversity in the digital public square.

Social media has undeniably transformed into the de facto public square of our time. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have become central hubs where people from all walks of life converge to share ideas, debate issues, and stay informed about current events. Unlike traditional public squares, which were limited by physical space and geography, social media transcends these boundaries, allowing for a global exchange of information and opinions. This digital public square is accessible 24/7, enabling real-time communication and engagement. Moreover, social media amplifies voices that might otherwise go unheard, fostering a more inclusive and diverse dialogue. However, this shift also brings challenges, such as the spread of misinformation and the need for digital literacy to navigate the vast amount of content available. Despite these challenges, social media’s role as the modern public square is undeniable, shaping public discourse in unprecedented ways.

Unfortunately, the “community standards” enforced by these platforms are increasingly stifling free speech. This is particularly true with regards to the suppression of naturist content, often due to a lack of nuance in distinguishing between sexual and benign nudity, which highlights the broader issue of how social media censorship can inadvertently limit free speech, prevent the development of new ideas, as well as hinder the growth and visibility of certain movements.

Clearly, the automated moderation systems employed by these platforms are not always effective. They often result in the removal of legitimate content while failing to catch harmful material. This inconsistency has led to widespread frustration among users who feel their voices are being unfairly silenced. The primary motivation behind these automated systems is to keep operational costs down, rather than ensuring free speech. If these platforms cannot improve their moderation algorithms to better distinguish between harmful rants and valid discourse, there may be a need for government regulation to ensure that free speech is protected while maintaining a safe online environment.

The human body in its natural state is wholesome. Social Media, stop blaming the victims! Stop body-shaming! 🪐

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published by Stéphane Deschênes, president of the International Naturist Federation (INF-FNI), on their blog on December 10, 2024. You can find the original post here: Censorship and body-shaming in social media must stop.