MALE MODEL ADS DEEMED TOO SEXY FOR TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Useful counterpoint to the usual tale of media misogyny (Guardian)... An underwear brand has found itself rendered "invisible" and in danger of bankruptcy as it's ads have suddenly been blocked from FB, Instagram etc AND a scheduled appearance on ITV's This Morning show was cancelled.

ITV claim their lawyers said that showing a model in a thong would be seen as a breach by OfCom while the social media giants categorise the same imagery as sexual. They don't apply this to shots of females in lingerie. The academic author of a book, The Story of Men's Underwear, said: “There are still double standards in how bodies are represented when semi-clothed”.

If TV regulation looks problematic here so does social media - which continues to exist without any regulator. Each simply sets and applies it's own often secretive rules.

'Instagram removed posts without explanation, and Moot employees were unable to tag products or use “swipe up to buy”, essential functions for companies when shops closed in the pandemic and e-commerce became the only way to purchase.'