Five years after my lovely sister Celine’s passing, I faced a heart-wrenching moment when Instagram suddenly removed her account. Her account was more than just a collection of photographs; it was a cherished sanctuary of memories from different stages of her life—a digital memorial that connected us to her vibrant spirit. Unfortunately, with its removal, a vital part of those memories has been torn away.

Losing access to these treasured photos has been devastating for my family and me. My sister's Instagram not only contained images but encapsulated moments that defined who she was—her hair colour changes, her joys, her cat Bella, and her journey through life. It included photos that I don’t have copies of anywhere else, making the account irreplaceable.

It's a feeling of helplessness to realize that these precious fragments of her life could be lost forever. Every day, I yearn to see her smile, to revisit moments we shared, and to feel her presence through her images—none of which is possible now.

Instagram offers a feature to memorialize accounts that serve as a touchpoint for surviving family and friends, allowing them to gather, grieve, and remember. Despite their privacy policies, dictating only she can recover the account THEY REMOVED in order for it to be memorialised, I am pleading for an exception in this case. It's been years since my sister's sudden death, and our ability to memorialise her life digitally should not be constrained by their inability to see humans as people and not just data files.

I urge Instagram to reconsider my sister's account removal and reinstate it in a memorialized form. By doing so, Instagram won't just be reinstating a profile but will be helping a grieving family find solace and comfort in the memory of a loved one.

Please sign this petition to support this request and grant families like mine the opportunity to preserve and cherish digital memories of their loved ones.