Instagram Recoveries on the Rise

CYBERSPACE—As AVN reported almost three weeks ago, Facebook-owned photo sharing app Instagram has implemented a new "appeal" form for those who've had their IG accounts disabled ... and since its introduction, a wave of adult performers and other industry members whose accounts were shuttered have been announcing that they've now been recovered. Below are just a sampling of those who've reported via Twitter that they've regained access to their Instagram accounts since submitting an appeal through the new form:   AVN Hall of Famer Alana Evans, who serves as president of the Adult Performers Actors Guild (APAG) and has been a leading activist in assisting the adult community with recovering their Instagram accounts, told AVN, "So many performers have gotten their accounts back, and every single day we get more tweets for the ones that want to be public, we get direct messages and emails from the ones who don't want to be public because they're still afraid of getting it removed again because of Omid and the other people that support him. "The numbers are insane," Evans continued. "They're insane. I mean, a couple ... OK, cool ... I could easily say more than 100 performers have come back to us publicly and privately saying they did it using the link we sent them, they can't believe it—some have been deleted for more than a year, and here they are rejoicing and having their data back. So it's amazing. It's exciting." That said, Evans cautioned, "There's still performers that are still fighting, they're still trying to be heard. The page doesn't work for everyone." Because there continue to be hurdles for many, Evans said, she and APAG are going ahead with plans for a performer "strike" outside the Instagram offices in Menlo Park, Calif., and New York City one week from today, June 19. For those in Southern California and Las Vegas who wish to take part, "I have rented vehicles to take us up there, I'm paying for drivers so that performers can go. We still have seats available!" Evans noted. "And I'm going to Instagram with a list of all of the people that we want ... that's what we're asking for. Because yes, they're doing it, and yes it's rolling out slowly, and for us that's just a sign of promise and potential that we can get this changed. But we also gotta iron out that it won't continue. "But we're so happy for every performer that comes to us and says, 'Oh my gosh, I got my account back,'" Evans concluded. "I get that little tingle inside."   The appeal form through which to contest the disablement of an Instagram account can be found on Instagram and Facebook. Some have been reporting better success with appealing via the latter. Those interested in joining APAG for its "#instaStrike" are asked to sign up here. On another note, AVN has learned that the person known as "Omid" who has claimed responsibility for effecting the disablement of hundreds of Instagram accounts belonging to adult performers and stakeholders has begun operating from a new personal Instagram account. Those wishing to learn this new handle or all of the known handles this person has used may do so privately by emailing [email protected]. Industry members and fans are also encouraged to explore AVN's own new social media platform, AVN Stars—which is free of the restrictions imposed by Instagram and others—at stars.avn.com.   Image by Web999 from Wikimedia Commons