Oliver Rawlings Asks: Should Instagram Let You Go Nude?

It may seem strange to us normal folk, but celebrities are currently up in arms about the right to bare all on social networking site Instagram. Considering the surprising direction this debate has taken, this week I ask on the Oliver Rawlings blog whether Instagram should let you go nude.

Freedom of Speech vs. Common Sense

The world has changed, and the internet has fostered a culture where our generation see it as their divine right to express themselves in any way they choose online. This popular mind set has been spurred on by social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and now Instagram, allowing a breadth of communication that would have been impossible to achieve even ten years ago.

Whilst living in a social media world has its advantages- and these are many – it generally does tempt people to post stupid, often offensive things. When this happens, not only does it shock and offend a lot of people, but it usually damages their reputation too. However whilst posting nude pictures is fairly stupid, many would argue that it’s a matter of freedom of expression, and this is why a campaign has grown up demanding that Instagram let people go nude.

Celebrities Go Nude

For those of you who’ve managed to avoid the social networking site, Instagram is primarily for posting pictures. Whilst those pictures are usually fairly tame, celebrities have been known to use the site to explore their wild side, and post snaps that many of us would find shocking, maybe even abhorrent.

That’s why it seems so unusual to me that this debate has even become a thing. Recently the site took down nude pictures that Rumor Willis had posted of herself. The sheer outrage she felt at such an action, prompted her and other women who’ve had topless pics removed, to start a campaign to get Instagram to change the policy. It’s become so popular even pop goddess Rihanna has endorsed it.

Oliver Rawlings on Freedom of Expression

Here’s the thing, Instagram say they ban this type of stuff as a matter of course. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom said of the policy that "you may not post violent, nude, partially nude… pornographic or sexually suggestive photos." That’s a fair point, but it’s not like Instagram hasn’t let people post offensive stuff before. Just where do they think the line is?

Of course, Oliver Rawlings readers, I’m not suggesting that you go and take a nude snap – you’d never live it down. What this is really about is freedom of expression. With the internet, the game has changed, and we need to seriously think as a society about what is appropriate and what isn’t in the digital age.