Cardiff University ‘Banter’ Instagram Account Under Fire Over Posts About Sexual Violence

A student-run Instagram account promoting itself as a source of university “banter” has come under growing criticism after anonymous posts discussing sexual assault and misogyny raised concerns about the normalisation of sexual violence.

Cardiff University has unfollowed the Cardiff Uni Banter account following concerns from students, staff and members of the public about its content. The page, which has more than 14,000 followers, publishes anonymous submissions about student life, relationships, sex and nightlife.

One particularly disturbing post contained an anonymous confession describing a man continuing to have sex with a woman while she was having a seizure. The BBC has not established whether the claim is true.

Jennifer Taylor, president of the National Union of Students Cymru, described the comments as “dangerous” and “harmful”, warning that they could reinforce a toxic culture on university campuses.

Megan Elmer, who contacted BBC Wales about the account, said she was concerned that posts of this nature could contribute to the perpetuation of rape culture by normalising misogynistic attitudes and discussions of sexual violence.

She also questioned why Cardiff University's official Instagram account had been following the page, highlighting the potential impact on students who have experienced sexual assault.

Rebecca Rumsey, a Cardiff University student and co-founder of sexual misconduct campaign group Time To Act, said students had repeatedly sent the group screenshots of the content. The campaign group has called on students to unfollow the account, stop submitting confessions and report posts they believe promote sexual violence or misogyny.

Some students have also called for a boycott of the page. Other posts seen by BBC Wales reportedly used derogatory terms to describe women.

Cardiff University said sexual violence, harassment and all forms of gender-based violence would not be tolerated. It stressed that the account was not affiliated with the university and that following it did not represent an endorsement of its content.

The university said it had followed the account to monitor and report concerning posts, had received complaints and had reported both individual posts and the account itself. It confirmed that it unfollowed the page after concerns were raised by its Students’ Union, staff, students and members of the public.

Cardiff Uni Banter has been approached for comment.

Why this matters

The controversy raises wider questions about the line between humour and harm, particularly in university communities where students should be able to feel safe and respected.

Anonymous confession pages can provide a space for students to share experiences and jokes about university life. However, describing content as “banter” does not automatically make it harmless. Posts that appear to trivialise sexual violence or demean women can cause distress, reinforce harmful attitudes and undermine efforts to challenge misogyny.

It is also important to distinguish between unverified anonymous allegations and established facts. The authenticity of an individual confession should not be assumed, but the concerns about how sexual violence is discussed and portrayed deserve serious consideration.

Universities, student organisations and social media users all have a role to play in challenging misogyny and ensuring that sexual violence is never treated as entertainment.

The bottom line: Banter should never be used as an excuse to dismiss concerns about sexual violence or misogyny. Students deserve a campus culture built on dignity, respect and accountability — both online and offline.

Reporting based on BBC Wales coverage published on 8 October 2026.