A Scots mum has started a petition after she was banned from TikTok for posting video of her breastfeeding her baby.
Emma O'Donnell, 33, posted the helpful video of her feeding five-month-old baby Harry to show how to breastfeed discreetly after receiving messages from anxious new mums who were unable to access breastfeeding help or classes due to Covid-19.
The Glasgow mummy-blogger, who has more than 37,000 followers, posted the video to TikTok - only to find it had been removed and she had been banned from posting for two days for "breaching community guidelines".
After reading the guidelines Emma was horrified to learn TikTok viewed her breastfeeding video in the same category as terrorism, violence, child abuse, hate speech, illegal activity and dangerous individuals, amongst others.
Emma, who is also mum to Finlay, five, and three-year-old Euan, said: "The video was removed less than an hour after posting and I was sent a notification explaining that I was in breach of their Community Guidelines. When I read what those were I couldn't believe it.
"Things like terrorism, child abuse and promoting drug use are all listed and here was my wee video of me feeding my infant son being put into that same category. It's horrifying.
"Honestly, I find it appalling that it's 2020 and women are being made to feel unsafe and insecure about doing something as natural as nurturing their own child. We are told breast is best yet society still shames us for doing it."
In the video Emma, whose mummy blog is a_mothers_tale on Instagram, can be seen feeding Harry to some back ground music, before she gently pops a sheet of muslin over her shoulder to show mums how to shield any exposed neck and upper chest areas, should they want to. Later she shows mums how to easy unclip outwear to allow their babies access.
At no point can her breasts be seen in the video.
Emma says she is disgusted at how women are objectified by social media platforms then shamed for mothering their children.
She said: "I am on TikTok and have lost count of how many videos I have seen where women are posing and dancing in their underwear. Some times even imitating sexual acts.
"So what that tells me is that they think it is ok to objectify women for sexual purposes, but if a woman is being maternal that is banned? How disgusting is that?"
Outraged by the censorship Emma has started a petition calling for all social media giants to 'normalise breastfeeding'.
She said: "This has to stop. So many mums are already feeling anxious about breastfeeding so for society to be further adding to it is just not fair.
"Breastfeeding is natural and for anyone to view this as a sexual thing, well, honestly, I think they are the ones who should be censored.
"I feel like the world has forgotten what breasts are actually for. Why is such a natural and beautiful act being made to feel dirty and something that should be hidden?"
Emma hopes by speaking out the big social media companies will start listening.
She added: "I just want people to know its not about how you feed your baby. Fed is best.
"But we deserve to have the choice, without fear of judgment either way. Seems we cannot win with feeding as we're judged regardless of what we do.
"And this undertone that breasts are simply there to please men is just so damaging and sends such a bad message. It's pathetic we are even still having to fight for this.
"I think all these social media giants could do with re-assessing how they view breastfeeding and raise mums up, instead of pulling us down."
TikTok said the video had been taken down"in error".
A spokesman said: "TikTok is an inclusive space for positive, creative expression, and our community of creators is vibrant and diverse.
"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."
