Instagram Allegedly Deletes Bellesa Sex Toy Shop Account for Mentioning Clitoris

The Bellesa Boutique’s Instagram account, which had 700,000 followers, was permanently deleted by Instagram for using the term “clitoris,” according to a statement from the sex toy retailer. The company, which offers a range of sex toys, shared this update from a new account, @bellesacensored, stating that their original account hosted over a decade’s worth of content. The deletion occurred due to “sexually explicit language” violations, per Meta’s Community Standards. These standards prohibit explicit language surrounding genitals, sexual arousal, and encounters, unless in a humorous or satirical context. Bellesa’s CEO, Michelle Shnaidman, noted the lack of an appeals process or warning before the account’s removal, indicating a broader issue of censorship affecting sexual health discussions on major platforms like Meta. This account removal came shortly after Meta was found guilty of negligent platform design that harmed a young person’s mental health. The deletion highlighted the continued censorship faced by entities discussing sexual health and pleasure online, with significant community and business impacts.