@alinenilsson via InstagramArts+Culture / NewsWomen are using male nipples to protest Instagram censorshipWe all know it – they’re pretty much identical. So why are female nipples so much more taboo than male ones?ShareLink copied ✔️July 7, 2015Arts+CultureNewsText Helena Horton If you were presented with two cut out pictures of nipples, one male and one female, it’s unlikely that you’d bet your life on which was which. So if male nipples are inoffensive, then by proxy so are female ones, right? What is the difference? A lot, apparently – men are free to post shirtless snaps as they see fit, but women aren’t allowed. To that end, some women are proving how ridiculous the rules are by covering up their nipples in their phots with cut out male ones. Instagram says in its community guidelines that female nipples, except in some circumstances, are banned. “We know that there are times when people might want to share nude images that are artistic or creative in nature, but for a variety of reasons, we don’t allow nudity on Instagram," it says. "This includes photos, videos, and some digitally-created content that show sexual intercourse, genitals, and close-ups of fully-nude buttocks. It also includes some photos of female nipples, but photos of post-mastectomy scarring and women actively breastfeeding are allowed. Nudity in photos of paintings and sculptures is OK, too.” Artist Micol Hebron created a template of a male nipple last year to make a statement about the online censorship rules that have bothered people from Cara Delevingne to Willow Smith. Now, women are putting the template over their own nipples in protest against the rules and to demonstrate how pointless it is to differentiate between the male and female form when it comes to censorship. Check out examples below and download Hebron’s nipple if you want to get involved. Micol HebronEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 30,000+ creatives from around the world.TrendingThe top 10 freakum dresses from Beyoncé’s hyper-glam B’Day eraTo celebrate the 20th anniversary of the R&B classic, we’re counting down the album cycle’s most impressive looks from 2006 and 2007FashionArt & Photography‘A Scandinavian pixie dream’: Photos from Way Out West festHingeLife & CultureTembe Denton-Hurst and Sasha Bonét on running towards your fearsFashionAmi Paris enlists its amis for its latest campaignMusicRanking Beyoncé’s unreleased B’Day tracksMusicThese are the standout sets from Reading Festival 2026Art & PhotographyNew art, music and ‘photographic encounters’ from Dazed Club membersLife & CultureThe deadly implications of Wales’ trans healthcare ‘pause’MusicThe 5 best tracks from Adéla’s debut album, Prima Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy