There is a strange feeling that comes with building something inside someone else’s world.
You can pour in the hours.
You can create consistently.
You can follow the rules — or at least try to understand them.
And still, one morning, you wake up to a notification:
Account Suspended.
No conversation.
No warning.
No nuance.
Just an automated decision.
If you are a creator, you know that feeling in your chest.
It isn’t just about a post.
It isn’t just about reach.
It’s about control.
The Invisible Line
We are told there are guidelines.
We are told there are standards.
We are told enforcement is consistent.
But in practice, the line often feels invisible.
An image is “too suggestive.”
A caption is “misinterpreted.”
An automated system flags something human context would never misunderstand.
And when that happens, you are not arguing with a person.
You are arguing with a machine.
The Algorithm Doesn’t See You
It doesn’t see your growth.
It doesn’t see your intention.
It doesn’t see your story.
It sees patterns.
It sees probabilities.
It sees risk mitigation.
For a creator — especially one who pushes artistic or sensual boundaries — that creates tension.
Because creativity lives in nuance.
Automation does not.
The Power Imbalance
Platforms like Instagram and Meta hold enormous leverage.
They own:
- The distribution
- The audience access
- The discovery algorithm
- The moderation system
Creators own:
- The work
- The time
- The emotional investment
That imbalance is what makes suspensions feel so heavy.
It’s not just enforcement.
It’s dependency.
What This Means for Me
I’ve had posts flagged.
Images removed.
Visibility throttled.
Moments where I wondered if everything I was building could disappear overnight.
And yet —
I’m still here.
Not because I agree with every decision.
Not because I think enforcement is always fair.
But because I refuse to build my identity on a platform I don’t control.
Instagram is a distribution channel.
It is not my foundation.
My foundation is:
- My brand.
- My business entity.
- My website.
- My music.
- My creativity.
That is what I own.
The Future of Creators
The lesson isn’t to quit.
It’s to diversify.
Build your email list.
Build your website.
Own your masters.
Register your trademarks.
Control your narrative.
If a platform removes you tomorrow, your identity should not vanish with it.
Standing in the Headlights
There will always be bigger machines.
Algorithms.
Policies.
Corporate structures.
But standing calmly in front of them — knowing who you are — is a different kind of power.
I don’t need to rage.
I don’t need to shout.
I just need to build something that exists beyond them.
And that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Add a Comment