Mata’s Instagram is under fire once again after it permanently deleted multiple UK-based queer-inclusive arts and sex worker organisations, wiping out years of digital community-building, income generation, and visibility.
The backlash follows a troubling trend. In January, Meta – the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads – admitted it had removed a number of inoffensive LGBTQ+ posts, attributing the actions to a so-called “technical error.”
Now, several organisations, including Cybertease, UK Sex Worker Pride, and the Sexquisite Podcast, have had their accounts removed without warning. Together, the accounts had a combined following of over 52,000 users, all lost overnight.
According to reports, appeals were swiftly rejected in under eight minutes, with no apparent human review or path for discussion.
‘It destroys six years of work’
Maedb Joy, the founder of Sexquisite – an award-winning platform launched in 2019 – condemned the deletion as devastating.
“Sexquisite isn’t just a brand – it’s a network, a support system, a space where sex workers finally get to exist without shame,” she said.
“Those follower numbers were proof of legitimacy, reach, cultural relevance and impact. Removing that overnight doesn’t just erase social media, it erases opportunity, visibility and safety.”
The account removals are being described by many as a direct attack on marginalised communities, rather than a case of moderation error. Joy stressed that Instagram is vital for ticket sales, reaching audiences, collaborating with performers, and sustaining community events.
“Without online reach, shows become financially unstable, performers lose income, and community spaces disappear.”
‘Not moderation, but erasure’
The issue has been tracked by Repro Uncensored, a global nonprofit that monitors digital censorship and suppression. In one week alone in November, the group recorded more than 30 account deletions, with many linked to marginalised communities.
Repro Uncensored also found that organisations led by sex workers, queer people, and other marginalised groups were more likely to face opaque enforcement, longer review times, and fewer avenues for appeal or reinstatement.
April Fiasco, founder of Cybertease, said the loss of their platform directly impacts performers’ ability to work safely.
“We are one of the first models of this kind in the UK. Losing our platform removes access to a safer working environment for dancers who rely on us. Meta deleting our account is a direct attack on our visibility, safety, and livelihood.”
Demands for reinstatement and accountability
Sexquisite and other affected groups are demanding the immediate restoration of all accounts, clear explanations behind enforcement decisions, and a human-led appeal process. They’re also calling for consultation with sex worker-led organisations to help guide more informed and inclusive moderation policies.
This follows a similar incident in November, when Meta deleted The Queer Agenda, an Amsterdam-based queer culture platform, without prior notice.
As calls for transparency grow louder, artists and advocates warn that without real change, tech platforms will continue to silence the very voices they claim to support.
