Meta Allegedly Deleting LGBTQ and Plus-Sized Business Instagram Accounts
By Anna Iovine
Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Instagram.
On October 3, 2026, Los Angeles-based lingerie brand Cantiq suddenly lost its Instagram account—its number one source of traffic and revenue—to an apparent ban by Instagram owner Meta. Designer and owner Chelsea Hughes told Mashable that the account was restored on October 9, but not before she experienced personal strife and public scrutiny.
"I can't even get into…the Meta Business Manager app," Hughes said during the account's downtime. "I can't access anything. So ten years of work down the drain."
A "Puritanical Culling"
Hughes described the incident as a "puritanical culling" of LGBTQ and plus-sized businesses on Instagram. While Meta has not commented publicly on this specific case, the company has come under fire in the past for allegedly deleting accounts of LGBTQ individuals and businesses.
Reacting to the Ban
The public scrutiny of Meta's actions has led to a broader conversation about the platform's moderation policies and their impact on marginalized communities. Hughes' story has been shared widely, sparking discussions about the importance of inclusivity and support for small businesses within social media platforms.
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For more on this story, check out Mashable's full article.
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