If you have been anywhere around the online knife community over the past 72 hours or so, you will be aware that Instagram went medieval on knifemakers and related accounts.
This is not a new situation in type, just in scope, as individual makers have been getting throttled for some time now. This weekend’s figurative bloodbath was something new entirely.
The American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI) is the knife industry’s trade association, and they have been trying to get a handle on the scope of the problem for some time now.
From AKTI:
There’s no debate that social media platforms have allowed knife brands to grow, build community, and connect directly to a passionate customer base. But knife and tool brands of all sizes find navigating the opaque and ever-changing rules and regulations of various social media platforms confusing and frustrating. Knife brands have seen posts flagged for violating community standards and terms of service. Several brands have had their social media accounts removed.
Given the prevalence and importance of social media in modern-day marketing and outreach plans, the American Knife and Tool Institute is undertaking a cohesive initiative to gain clarity and insight into the wide array of social media rules and regulations. AKTI’s aim is to find a path to remove or reduce the suppression of knife brands’ social media accounts.
“Social media censorship is an issue that rears its head almost daily in the knife industry,” said Chas Fisher, AKTI Board of Regents member and General Manager of Boker USA. “It’s a challenge to play by the rules and community standards set by social media channels. Nobody wants to have an account banned or removed.”
You can read more at this link
If you have not filled out AKTI’s Social Media Questionnaire, please do so here
If you are a maker who got caught up in the ban, please let us know and we will be sure to share your website on Black Friday. And please, please appeal the ruling! Hopefully, there is some good that comes out of this. Perhaps the sheer volume of folks that got clobbered at once is enough to actually get noticed.
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