Censorship on Social Media: From Michelangelo to Algorithmic Control

Fabrizio Federici, curator of the Mo(n)stre page, recounts how social media platforms, especially Facebook, increasingly censor art content. Recent removals include a Vanity Fair Italia cover featuring Mahmood and Blanco, combined with a Ravenna mosaic of Justinian, and a 15th-century miniature depicting self-castration, which was reported by anti-vaxxers. The algorithm imposes escalating penalties like posting bans and reduced distribution, with no human recourse. Federici compares this to Michelangelo's defiance of Pope Paul IV over the Sistine Chapel's nudity. He notes that museums like those in Vienna have migrated to OnlyFans, hoping protests will pressure platforms to respect art and creativity.