Adult retailers and companies regularly face issues when promoting and advertising adult products online. With dozens of vague rules and regulations enforced by social media platforms, it can be hard to decipher what is allowed and what is considered 'inappropriate'. Adulttoymegastore has received several warnings and had posts removed from social media platforms for "violating terms and service", although these are often unjustified.
Last week, leading adult brand We-Vibe had their Instagram account shut down for reasons that weren't made entirely explicit. Now, We-Vibe has written an open letter to Instagram, encouraging them to #UnmutePleasure.
We-Vibe was launched in 2008, bringing the first sex toys that are designed to be worn during sex to the market. Since then, they have created a range of amazing high-quality products, won dozens of innovation awards, and helped over 2 million people redefine intimacy. They support sex positivity and are constantly trying to normalise the idea of sexual pleasure and acceptance for people of all genders and sexual orientations. Their open letter encourages Instagram to reconsider the account shutdown, stating that "We-Vibe believes that pleasure and intimacy should be celebrated as an essential part of our human experience and integral to our wellbeing. Unfortunately, this is one of the few values that we do not have in common". We-Vibe continue on to cite several of Instagram's Community Guidelines as reasons to restore their Instagram account, including that the social media giant "want to foster a positive, diverse community".
Head of communications, Denny Alexander, has commented that this is "bigger than We-Vibe". "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".
With no reply from Instagram as of yet, and We-Vibe's account remaining shutdown, the leading adult brand are reaching out to retailers, artists, activists, sex works, and anyone in the industry to spread the message.
Adulttoymegastore is dedicated to promoting sex positivity, sexual health, and breaking the stigma around sexual pleasure. ATMS encourages Instagram, and other social media platforms, to reconsider regulations and help #UnmutePleasure!