Instagram bans the hashtag ‘curvy’ and users are not happy about it

INSTAGRAM has banned the search term “curvy” - sparking outrage and bemusement from users. But they say they did it for a good reason.

Instagram has banned the hashtag #Curvy.

POPULAR photo sharing app Instagram has banned the search term “curvy”, sparking outrage and bemusement from many users.

The company says the rationale behind the move was the fact that porn companies used the term to share content, reports CNN.

But people have taken to other forms of social media to express their disagreement over the move with some even calling it “absolutely disgusting”.

While #Curvy is no longer searchable in the app or the desktop version, many people have been quick to point out that other, more insidious search terms such as “Thinspo” which encourages girls to post photos of themselves looking skinny, still remain.

I CANNOT BELIEVE @instagram HAVE REMOVED THE OPTION TO SEARCH THE WORD #CURVY. Is that not absolutely disgusting?

Hey @instagram - #curvy is not a bad word. I am curvy. And I'm not offended by people using that descriptor. Why did you ban it?

Why has Instagram banned the hashtag 'curvy' that is the most mother flipping ridiculous thing I've heard in a longggg time.

why has Instagram wiped the curvy hashtag clean but you can still access #skinny and #thinspiration?

User who have tried to search for the term have been met with a blank page explaining: “Sorry, this page isn’t available”.

The term “curvy” has been used by advocates to promote healthy body image among women and many have expressed disappointment with the decision by Instagram.

“My issue is not with what Instagram are allowing, my issue is what they are not allowing. It is so important that platforms like Instagram get behind positive self and sexual expression,” artist Sam Roddick told The Huffington Post.

As for Instagram, they have stuck by their decision, saying the term violated their policy over explicit content.

“I can confirm that we did block the hashtag #curvy. It was being used to share content that violates our guidelines around nudity,” a spokesman from Instagram confirmed to Mashable.