Instagram has banned the #EDM tag, the abbreviation for electronic dance music. The company confirmed the news Tuesday after users and blogs pointed out that the hashtag had gone missing from the social media outlet and was no longer searchable or in any posts.
In a statement to Time, Instagram spokesperson Gabe Madway clarified why Instagram decided to ban the hashtag based on the fact that there were frequent violations of their guidelines. "In this case, #EDM was being used to share content that violates our guidelines around nudity," he said.
He added that Instagram is working to reinstate hashtags that have previously been blocked and to better communicate the guidelines for hashtags that might lead them to getting blocked in the hope that the community would self-police, but that is wishful thinking.
Instagram has taken some flak in the past over its decision to ban certain hashtags that have a tendency to violate its terms and conditions. Ones that have gotten a lot of media attention recently have included #EggplantFriday, which was a way for penis-searching users to find their desired "eggplant" and more controversially #curvy, which Instagram denied based on the grounds of nudity. It was quickly reinstated after women claimed it was an empowering hashtag, though #curvy is now tightly moderated.
While the hashtag #EDM had some lewd images in there, but when you peruse other hashtags like #edmgirls, #edmguys or #rave, similar content comes up. Instagram can try and stop the rave, but the sex and drugs will carry on whether or not they like it and people will always find a medium to share it.
