One mother is slamming TikTok after the social network banned her from the platform. Their reason? She posted a video of herself breastfeeding. Now Emma O’Donnell, 33, is using her platform as a mommy blogger to discuss the continued stigma surrounding breastfeeding.
In her TikTok, O’Donnell offered tips on breastfeeding in public. She emphasized that no mother should feel pressured to cover up, but some may feel more secure if they do. She demonstrated the techniques, which included placing a sheet over her shoulder to conceal her chest. At no point in the video does O’Donnell bare her chest.
In an Instagram post, O’Donnell described her experience with TikTok, stating that she was nowhere close to showing her chest.
She writes, “Yet the video was removed and I’ve been blocked from the platform for indecency. However, if I had been dancing around in my underwear without a baby I dare say the video would still be there.”
Breastfeeding on TikTok
When O’Donnell posted the video, she received a notice from TikTok claiming she had breached community guidelines. According to Metro, she tried to appeal the ban, thinking it was an algorithm error. TikTok reviewed her video and stood by the initial decision. O’Donnell ended up appealing the decision three more times before her video was reinstated.
However, O’Donnell is still outraged that her video was flagged to begin with.
“This sadly is not the first time this has happened, women everywhere are constantly having posts removed for breaching community guidelines over an act that is entirely natural,” O’Donnell wrote.
A TikTok spokesperson confirmed to Metro that the platform was fine with breastfeeding being depicted in videos, such as O’Donnell’s. They stated, “Content depicting breastfeeding is welcomed on our platform and #breastfeeding has over 185m views. The video in question was removed in error and has subsequently been restored.”
Mom Demands Change on Platforms
@a_mothers_tale I for one tend to just whip them out 😂 but I’ve been asked for discreet tips if you’re shy! ❤️ ##breastfeeding ##bf2020 ##normalisebreastfeeding ##ukmum
♬ Superstar – Beatrich
O’Donnell hopes that sharing her situation will help normalize breastfeeding content on social media. She was also inspired to create a Change.org petition targeting Instagram, Facebook, and Instagram.
“It’s more about the fact that you can’t have one rule for girls and lads dancing around in next to nothing, but once there’s a baby involved that’s somehow wrong,” O’Donnell told Metro. “It doesn’t make sense.”
In the petition, she explains that platforms allow posts of women that are “far more exposing,” but crack down on breastfeeding moms, which she finds unfair. In light of the pandemic, O’Donnell believes building an online community of women sharing their breastfeeding experience is a lifeline for moms who can’t access in-person support groups.
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TikTok While Breastfeeding — Sources
Metro: Mum banned from TikTok for posting ‘indecent’ breastfeeding video
Change.org