Instagram has a lot of rules and regulations on their platform that they enforce with users to ensure they promote a safe and appropriate social experience.
Instagram has a lot of rules and regulations on their platform that they enforce with users to ensure they promote a safe and appropriate social experience.
To prevent things like harassment and an unsafe environment, the company does a pretty good job at monitoring reports and taking action.
When they pose danger or post things that are inappropriate and against the law, Instagram will be quick to take the account down.
Since it's become common practice for parents to share photos of their children online, these rules and regulations were created specifically to protect children.
These photos are typically of children doing regular kid things like playing or taking a bath, so parents don't even think about Instagram's posting policies when sharing them.
Parenting blogger Courtney Adamo said her Instagram account was taken down, "by mistake."
She figured it was an innocent picture.
However, she never was told which photos were the ones reported and why. She wrote on her blog:
"After a bit of research, I discovered that if you receive too many reports of 'inappropriate' images, it sends a red flag to the Instagram team and their automated service will disable your account entirely, without warning and without notice."
It happened to be a photo of her toddler, Marlow.
At the time, Courtney didn't think there was anything wrong with the photo.
"I thought it was such a sweet photo of my baby girl and her gorgeous, round belly (and outie belly button). And I love that her pride is so evident in the photo — such a sweet and innocent shot of a successful day of potty-training," she said on her blog.
The only "nudity" in the photo was her daughter's belly button.
"Unless a baby's belly is considered 'nudity'…but surely it isn't!" Courtney wrote.
So where does Instagram draw the line when it comes to "nudity"? What about a baby in a bathing suit, Courtney wondered.
She knew that there was nothing inappropriate or wrong with the photo, so she reposted it.
For a blogger, that's the ultimate slap in the face. And, four years' worth of her photos were just completely gone.
After others posted her story online, the company finally realized — they made a mistake.
"We try hard to find a good balance between allowing people to express themselves and having policies to create and protect young children," the company said.
"This is one reason why our guidelines put limitations on nudity, but we recognize that we don't always get it right. In this case, we made a mistake and have since restored the account," the company said.
It just goes to show you, even big companies make mistakes, but it's definitely a warning for all parents out there.
The company also deleted one mom's account in 2014 after she shared a photo of herself breastfeeding her daughter. The mom, Heather Bays, got her account back but with seven photos removed.
These cases probably won't be the last time Instagram and parents disagree, but it'll definitely make parents think twice before they post.