Content creators, charities, and businesses focused on women’s health are reporting widespread restrictions on social media platforms, raising concerns about the visibility of health-related information.
Instagram removed advertisements for pregnancy pillows after flagging the word “pregnancy” as problematic, according to Irene Breen, whose company spent 10 months negotiating with Meta to restore the ads. The campaign group CensHERship surveyed nearly 200 creators, providers, brands, charities, and educators, with 96% reporting they had experienced some form of content restrictions. These restrictions include removal of posts, application of sensitivity filters that blur content, and suppression of reach through a practice called “shadowbanning.”
Specific cases illustrate the scope of the issue. Eve Appeal, a gynaecological cancer charity, found that posts about vulval anatomy and cancer screening were removed or hidden behind sensitivity filters, including one featuring a labeled anatomical diagram. Hertility, a fertility testing company, had a Facebook and Instagram video removed in which a woman described her experience with endometriosis, with the platform classifying it as political content. The hashtag #vaginalcancer itself does not appear on Instagram, according to charity leadership.
Experts attribute some of these restrictions to automated systems that flag content based on platform guidelines. Dr. Carolina Are, a digital criminologist at the London School of Economics, notes that artificial intelligence used for content moderation can “misdetect” content and repeat previous mistaken decisions, often with automated messaging that prevents users from appealing. Platforms’ policies conflate nudity with sexual activity, which can result in health education content being inappropriately restricted.
In response to restrictions, a growing number of content creators are self-censoring. CensHERship found that the proportion of respondents engaging in self-censorship increased from 53% in 2025 to 65% this year, using euphemistic language and avoiding certain topics. Advocates argue this reinforces historical shame surrounding women’s health and prevents people from accessing potentially life-saving health information. Meta and TikTok stated they allow women’s health content and are consulting with organizations to improve their systems, though critics contend that stated policies do not prevent algorithms from suppressing the content.
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