Continuing the Discussion on Instagram and Advertising Ethics.

[ivegotatheoryitcouldbebunnies1]

Let’s try and keep this one on topic so it doesn’t get deleted like countless others. So no focussing on one individual instagrammer. Please keep it more broad!

[SplatPancake]

So I’m surprised by a well known chippy beauty blogger who used to be all over a skincare company - then it became clear that she was working with the brand, shady thing no. 1.

Then there was some kind of fall out, and it was stated she would never mention them or give them “oxygen of publicity” again, implying some shady dealings (shady thing no 2).

Same brand have just copped to posting fake amazing reviews (shady thing no 3), and bizarrely there is said blogger giving them a massive ad as they have reformulated some oil or something (shady thing no 4) and all traces of previous distancing have been removed (shady thing no 5). And getting really shirty with anyone questioning any of this!

So what are you supposed to believe? No one comes out of this looking anything other than shady.

I would never consider buying from the brand, and now I feel that all the blogger’s recommendations are bogus, as there could be no clearer evidence that it’s done for the money.

Business- yes. Ethical- absolutely not.

[IDontNeedNoPyjamas]

There was an article recently about fake amazon reviews. People giving glowing reviews of products because they were being rewarded by being gifted the things they were reviewing. Who’d have thunk it eh??

www.gizmodo.co.uk/2018/10/fake-amazon-uk-reviews/

[ivegotatheoryitcouldbebunnies1]

Sunday Riley had been getting their staff to write Sephora reviews.

www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/a23862214/sunday-riley-fake-reviews/

[SplatPancake]

Yes but it’s the transparent two-facedness of the blogger who shouts about her honesty in her reviews and recommendations that annoys me most

[ivegotatheoryitcouldbebunnies1]

Are you able to say who it is splat?

[IDontNeedNoPyjamas]

MNHQ have responded on the point re what we are and not allowed to discuss > www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/3404256-Instagram

Which seems fair enough.

(please let's not get into a discussion about the legal threat or lack of)

I don't know which blogger it is you are referring to but many of them make me gasp with their ability to say one thing but do another.

[Mightymousie]

I follow an account that is a family store. Tragically earlier in the year one of their children died in an accident in the home. I was horrified that they posted a photo of their oldest child (about 7/8) and a tear jerking memory regarding her little brother. Then in the paragraph beneath it was clearly an ad for the item the daughter was on. Is nothing sacred.

[Xenia]

New ASA guidance launched on 28 Sept for influencers
www.asa.org.uk/news/new-guidance-launched-for-social-influencers.html

[IDontNeedNoPyjamas]

Thanks @Xenia, the ASA guidance was discussed quite a bit on the last thread (which is why it is frustrating that it was removed in its entirety)

@Mightymousie. What a tragic story

[SplatPancake]

Sorry, was avoiding naming in light of rules. But it’s a huge, mouthy, British skincare “guru” and blogger/YouTuber.

And MightyMousie that’s just awful

[IDontNeedNoPyjamas]

We can name names and brands (especially brands) provided the opinion is a fair one, factually correct and there isn’t pages and pages of people honing in to attack that blogger in other ways. I don’t follow many beauty bloggers though, I find the whole industry a bit snake oil ish.

[youare]

@Mightymousie I saw that post. Honestly couldn't believe it.

[Xenia]

Sorry, I didn't see the other thread and had just noticed the new guidelines. I don't read or use most social media so bloggers tend to pass me by but I know they have huge influence with a lot of people.

[Peaches100]

A few weeks ago a fashion blogger had link after link of clothing sites in their stories, not one was marked as an ad. Maybe she forgot.

Yesterday it was a beauty product, linked again in stories, no disclosure of an ad etc. But she had managed to remember to link everything as always to rewardstyle.com to gain her commission.

The interesting thing is she has written about meeting with the ASA and also owns a marketing Influencer business. She is obviously very aware of the rules.

Using affiliate links you are effectively acting as a secondary advertiser. I feel lately the advertising on Instagram is actually getting worse despite new rules.

I think influencers have realised everything is really an ad or advertisement feature whether its a link, gift, partnership etc. and they are doing everything they can to drag their heels.

For me if they can't be honest about their ad, I can't believe they are being honest about their opinion.

[IDontNeedNoPyjamas]

Using affiliate links means you are a primary advertiser - ASA treats the blogger who sends out the link as the advertiser and not the brand. The brand has devolved its control to the blogger (which is quite foolish really when you think about it). If it is the same blogger I am thinking of then she should definitely be reported to ASA, because she can't claim ignorance of the rules like a lot of them do.

Here is the link again > www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint.html

[Peaches100]

Thanks for that Pyjamas, I will have a look :)

[checkedcloth]

So a number of instamums have been at fortnum and mason this week having some sort of afternoon tea and tagging #fortnums. Is this and AD?

[HolyMountain]

ive It’s Caroline Hirons who got very arsey with Sunday Riley but appears to be happy to promote the brand again.

[HolyMountain]

CH is in ‘paid partnership’ with an awful lot of brands.

How does one find the time to test all of these products and be able to give a genuine and honest review that that particular item gave the skin the desired effect and result?

Money talks and all that.

[IDontNeedNoPyjamas]

They were probably just picking up their very expensive advent calendars which I am sure will be making appearances on our phone screens soon (I’ve already seen one).

[checkedcloth]

Yep I’ve seen a load of white company and liberty advents dished out

Seems wrong when something so lovely like that could be given to someone way more deserving - but get that that doesn’t sell

[Mightymousie]

@youare I was trying to not be appalled, but bottom line was it was a very private memory and that seemed way out of order to me.

[youare]

@Mightymousie It was a really unsettling placement of an advert.

[VTechnophobe]

Are we allowed to have this conversation here? There has been a huge furore this weekend over one vlogger taking a seemingly free holiday and not only not declaring it as an AD but flat out saying it wasn't one. This has then resulted in another vlogger who did pay their way having to defend themselves becausebthe lack of transparency from.some reflects badly on those who do abide by the ASA and CMA guidance. It's unethical.

[checkedcloth]

I believe we should be able to discuss this here, although many threads are deleted. I agree that the ethics are important to have on display.