LOS ANGELES—Instagram has deleted Erika Lust's original Instagram account, @erikalustfilms, without warning or clear justification.
With over 90,000 followers, the account was a hub for discussions on sexuality, pleasure, and ethics in adult filmmaking.
The removal on Feb. 3, 2025, was sudden, with Instagram citing ‘violations regarding sexual solicitation’—a vague and overused charge that has been disproportionately applied to sex educators, content creators, and wellness brands.
Lust’s team has long dealt with shadowbanning, post removals, and content restrictions, "challenges that have grown due to Meta’s policies and algorithms, which often silence minority voices. Earlier this year, Meta updated its Hate Speech guidelines, making it easier for hate toward protected groups," a studio representative said.
“We only shared soft, censored content,” Lust said. “Yet we were still targeted. ... Censorship silences conversations that matter. When platforms erase sex education and ethical storytelling, they don't just delete accounts, they erase voices, pleasure, and progress."
In response to the account deletion, Erika Lust's team has launched a new Instagram account (@erikalust), focusing on PG-rated content.
