“I never change the terminology. I refuse to censor myself or the educational content I share online. If we replace words like ‘clitoris’ or ‘vagina,’ we’re simply recreating the same taboos we’re trying to break from.”
Sandrine Atallah, a Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) physician in Lebanon, does not compromise her language when sharing her content on social media.
This unfiltered speech puts her in constant conflict with social media platforms and their algorithms. In a lengthy conversation, she explained to SMEX how platforms falsely categorize educational content as pornographic content, limiting reach and hindering her work.
Sometimes algorithms allow pornographic content for its high viewership, serving the platform’s interests by keeping people online as long as possible. But educational content is often considered a burden unless it’s promotional or paid, explained Dr. Atallah.
In 2021, Dr. Atallah’s account on TikTok was abruptly shut down following a mass reporting campaign. Mass reporting on social media platforms can lead to account suspension even if there is no direct violation.
After the incident, an official from TikTok reached out to Dr. Atallah and confirmed they wanted to encourage educational content on the platform.
“The account was restored in less than 24 hours, but the experience taught me how fragile these policies are, and at the same time, it showed me how much people supported me.”
The restrictions on Dr. Atallah’s accounts did not stop there. She noticed that many videos suddenly disappeared or saw a sharp decline in views without any clear explanation.
“This is proof of undeclared restrictions and shadowbanning, which is a form of quiet censorship,” Dr. Atallah told SMEX.
A 2024 study by SMEX, on the suppression of sexual and reproductive health and rights content in WANA also found that social media platforms dealt with Sandrine Atallah’s content with unjustified severity, despite its scientific and educational nature.
According to the Freedom on the Net 2023 report, online freedom of expression, more specifically on topics such as sexual health and women’s rights, suffer from a severe repression on social media platforms.
Freedom on the Net’s report also showed that content related to sexual and reproductive health is often automatically classified as “sexual or inappropriate content,” leading to the deletion, restriction, or rejection of educational posts and ads.
The study revealed that platforms treat informational and medical material, published by qualified and trusted professionals, as if it were pornographic content.
An example would be the Metle Metlik platform (roughly translating to “You’re like me” or “we’re the same”). Together with OBGYN Dr. Gaël Abou Ghannam, the two physicians launched it as a digital space to address women’s sexual and reproductive health issues. Despite its educational nature, their content has faced similar challenges.
Paid advertisements are repeatedly rejected due to using purely medical terms, yet Dr. Atallah refuses to adjust her speech for the algorithm: “We chose to be clear from the very beginning. Our message cannot be delivered if we skirt around words or play with the language.”
Despite the many challenges imposed by tech companies, and even audiences, Dr. Atallah sees her presence on these platforms as an extension of her work inside the clinic. It’s her way of reaching Arabic-speaking audiences seeking basic, medical knowledge about their bodies and their reproductive health.
Topics considered as the “ABCs of sex education,” such as vaginismus, unsafe sexual relations, and harassment, must be discussed openly, according to Dr. Atallah. Censoring these topics deprives individuals of exercising their rights and exposes them to unnecessary risks.
Dr. Atallah stressed that, for her, impact is measured by the results achieved through the platform she co-founded, Metle Metlik, while presence on social media remains a daily battle with the platforms.
“I don’t want to play this silly game with the algorithms. I insist that my language remain scientific and direct, because awareness in the field of SRHR is both a necessity and a right. No matter how harsh or offensive negative comments may be, they remain outside my focus.”
Amid the cruelty of the algorithm game and the constant hate speech targeting trusted experts and academics, Dr. Sandrine’s defiance serves as a successful model against giant corporations’ repression.
The Digital Safety Helpdesk at SMEX is always ready to support you in case of digital violence. Our team can provide tips and guidance to help you strengthen your digital security. We can also help in removing abusive content on social media platforms.
You can contact the Digital Safety Helpdesk if you are subjected to any kind of digital violence through:
WhatsApp or Signal: +961 81 633 133 (text or voice message)
Email: helpdesk@smex.org
