Instagram loves the nipples, guys. Loves them. Instagram would totally be a tidal wave of feminist change were it not for the true villains of the piece: Apple. According to the Business Insider, Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom recently announced that Instagram has no choice but to ban female nipples to keep it below an NC-17 rating in the Apple store, which forbids sexually explicit content. Nobody is really buying this argument, considering the Apple store has not removed Twitter, which only disallows “graphic content” in profile and header photos.
Systrom claims they remain “committed to artistic freedom,” but that “in order to scale effectively, there are [some] tough calls.” Those calls include banning female nipples unless they are images of breastfeeding women or mastectomy scars. The official Instagram policy on nudity is: “If you wouldn’t show the photo or video you are thinking about uploading to a child, or your boss, or your parents, you probably shouldn’t share it on Instagram.” Which is a little odd because, while breastfeeding in the workplace is definitely something that should be allowed and not punishable, how often do you find yourself sharing photos of yourself breastfeeding with your boss?
The #FreeTheNipple campaign has generated a significant following, including a documentary, nipple bikini tops called TaTa Tops, and involvement from celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Chrissy Teigen, and Matt McGorry. In July, McGorry shared an image of himself shirtless, with his own nipples photoshopped over with the banned nipples of Cyrus and Teigen.
So, Instagram, we’re just not buying it. It’s time to #FreeTheNipple – no excuses.
Photos: Facebook/Free The Nipple
Read more on BUST.com:
Free Your Nipples This Summer With The Ta Ta Top
You Need To Watch The “Free The Nipple” Trailer
Miley Cyrus Records Song To Free The Nipple
