While following Nikki Sixx on Twitter and Facebook (I sound like a stalker!), I noticed that he had started posting responses coming from Facebook as he has tried to upload photos from his photography work.
He was refused permission by the social networking site on the grounds that the images he was trying to upload were unsuitable.
Never the one to takes things lying down, Sixx has went to his online legion of fans to express his anger over this situation and I ask the question why are they unsuitable?
Millions of men, women and children across the world have posted pictures of themselves wearing next to nothing, other profile pictures of images from horror movies that some may find disturbing, bad language or use of text speak, (which I personally find very offensive myself) images of anorexic and skeleton like bodies that can be found along with many other images that could be deemed inappropriate be others – so why is Nikki being singled out for his art, and how is Facebook able to determine what is art?
This also raises the very important issue of who is controlling our social media accounts? Millions of people across the world share personal and confidential information across sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, etc. Using those services, people are continually posting updates, tweeting, liking, checking in etc. It makes sense really – most people feel the need to be connected to the internet. Social networks provide an incredible way to connect with family, your friends, your colleagues, and others in your working environment, but are we really in control of our online lives?
It seems strange that thousands off Sixx.A.M fans have successfully changed their profile photos to this image and no warning has appeared for them and also the below video for the single is allowed on his profile but the image is not! Who then is really in control of our accounts? What are the social networks monitoring? Why could Nikki potentially lose the account that over 250K users have liked and kept in contact with him when the image is allowed on other profiles?
It also leads to the important question of ‘How widespread is the censoring of links or other activities on Facebook?” A quick search online will bring up countless articles on online censorship with some even going as far to say that Facebook is using “error messages” as a tactic for making users believe that they aren’t being censored!
Even though Facebook is being singled out in this instance – I think that this issue applies across the board and it is important to address this topic now. As technology advances, we’ll be dealing with more and more with situations like this.
The situation that Nikki is dealing with proves to me that it is not the art that Facebook is trying to silence – it is indeed the man!
For all you Crue heads or for anyone that thinks that this is a stupid act of censorship please take the image from this post, and make it your Facebook profile picture and be glad that people like Nikki use their popularity to bring light to these situations.
Down with that sort of stuff and long live the Crue!
16 comments
I do not understand why Sixx is told his images are obscene and not allowed. When I have seen images of people who cut themselves and the graphic nature of that. Sixx is an artist and should be able to express himself as he choses. The picture has no visible nudity. So what’s the issue?
I can relate. One day a police officer phoned me in the morning saying that he had read my Facebook acct and
that I was not to contact a gentleman again. I said, but the guy bought a motor home off me and he needs my
contact to pick it up. Furthermore his (now property) is on my property. See the danger here? So long story short. I only FB’d this guy twice so now i’ll have nothing to do with that outfit! ps the guy never picked up his vehicle. With the Nikki situation it is not the same but the end result is. People, no matter who should not be
allowed to mess with anyone’s mail. I was brought up to believe it is a federal offence to read someone elses MAIL
I changed this to my Profile picture Hours ago, not a peep. And like I said before it has nothing to do with the photo it is the man. If the pictures Nikki Posts Offend you DONT LOOK. It Is painfully obvious The Crue Heads are not bothered by it, but more by The Censorship. Nikki Sixx is a God to me, ut that is not the reason this bothers me so much. It simply be cause I HATE to be told What I can and can’t Look at,say or listen to. LAND OF THE FREE RING ANY BELLS?
Heck, I’m thinking that I’ll go back to my original FB pic… It’s one of Nikki flipping the bird. Kinda sounds appropriate right now, doesn’t it?
I am still of the opinion that someone is consistently reporting Nikki’s images to Facebook. In my opinion FB is just too big for them to police.
I have had friends report hate sites. They’ve had contact and been told that FB can’t do anything until they receive a report with reference to the size of the site.
The other problem is that if Nikki’s art has been reported they’ll keep an eye on it now.
I find it disgusting. There have been sites dedicated to harassing the victims of bullying, pages full of ethnic/racial/sexual slurs and they’re targeting truly creative photos while ignoring who knows how many homemade pics of people’s bits and pieces?
My profile pic will stay the cover of “Lies Of The Beautiful People” until FB gets their act together. God save the artists.
Part 2 Further comment and solution: Further to my point being brought up about mail. If MR. Nikki Sixx chose to
snail mail 200k pics of (the photo in question) to his followers.. do you really think the post office would open his
mail enroute? Of course not! This proves a point, a very valid point. Just because Mr. Nikki Sixx chose to send his mail beit pic or letter on FaceBook’s platform, it does not and should not be anyone’s decision. If he sends to
his followers and some onlooker gets involved and has a bad opinion, well it was not for his/her intended use now was it? Solution: Nikki move your followers to your own “SixxBook” and anything goes!!! Sincerely hope this gets resolved in your favor!!!
The foul language used by some people on Facebook is worse than the photo. The photo is nice, it’s art. Facebook leave the photo and Nikki Sixx alone.
well nikki. I changed my profile pic to lotbp. I thought we lived in a free country! I didnt relalize just anyone can judge art n photos and just decise its porn as the call it which is BULLSHIT! You are corrent people dont want the truth in life no matter how ugly it is! YOUR work is fn awsome n nikki you are just a rock god! agreed if they tKE YOU OUTTA FB.. IM GOING WITH YOU! I have seen some sick stuff posted on here but YOUR the rockstar so they have to be on u! HEY FUCK EM NIKKI! YOU ARE THER BEST
Facebook has done a lot of questionable things because of what they deem “unacceptable”. They always fall back on the standard “Read the Terms and Services” argument, when in actuality they are censoring the voice of the people. This is not the first nor will be it be the last incident in which the powers that be at FB violate the First Amendment. ((Recently they deleted a majority of accounts from the Role Play community, which caused quite an uproar. When many of us went looking, we found there is NO WAY to contact them about such actions. They even refused to answer the media’s questioning on why such action was taken.))
I’m proud that Nikki took a stand. I’m honored to be called a fan of Nikki Sixx. Keep rocking Nikki!!
Let’s see, half nude underage girls and boys pics are ok on FB from what I’ve seen on some of my kids friends profiles but a pic of someones art, that shows nothing offensive is not.
I find it ridiculous that some idiot in an office at FB has the right to decide what is ‘acceptable’ by blocking Nikki’s art. And yet the morons running our country have decided that the asses that protest military funerals are allowed because of their ‘freedom of speech’ ??? That’s what I always thought art was — the artist freedom of speech. It is a beautiful photo and should be allowed to be viewed.
FACEBOOK, per se, is not doing the censoring. It’s the people that have “liked” his page that are doing it.
I also believe someone is flagging Nikki’s photos as inappropriate. It is this notification that alerts Facebook to take action. Either way – it’s crap.
The problem with this issue of art vs censorship is really simple. “We” the Facebook users, do not own any part of the Facebook company or, our profile. It is a private, for profit company that is “allowing” us free use of their site. If we want to play in their sandbox we will be asked to play by their everchanging and off the cuff rules. I don’t agree with censorship. It can not be one persons job to tell me what is or isn’t art. But unless you have your own servers and social media site you will always be at the mercy of someone elses ideas of morality. Even then the FCC and other non voted agencies will inforce someone elses ideas of what is right and art. It’s 2011 and you can’t say “FUCK” on tv….
I choose to follow Nikki on FB and TWitter so if I didn’t want to see those images, it is MY choice to unfollow him……not Facebook’s! His art is amazing and it deserves to been seen!
I find it funny that images os women with various items inserted in places is ok but Breast feeding photos and art is censored.. It makes no sense and makes you wonder about the people who find it offensive. If they are going to police facebook, do it all not pick and choose.
HEY #FACEBOOKCLERKS – STOP PISSING OF #ROCKROYALTY!
#TeamSixx http://plixi.com/p/82465504
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