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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of Instamums

999 replies

Hmmmmx100 · 25/08/2017 22:56

I followed a few of the more well-known Instamums but got weary of the constant daily barrage of brand endorsements. I can't relate to people on £100k a year in Farrow & Ball houses. I just can't. So I had to unfollow em all, every one. AIBU to feel a bit miffed that these people are using the idea of sisterhood to make money? They're not our friends, they're just there to sell us stuff that we probably don't need anyway.

OP posts:
800msprint · 27/08/2017 17:30

I used to follow mod but gave up when it became more about lipstick colour and clothes than her life as a midwife. It made me feel a bit sad that she could be using her influence to do some really important stuff around pregnancy and birth but doesn't.

I do like mama p as she's really funny and is pushing a great campaign.

Ditto Esther C as she's hilarious and did some great posts on capsule wardrobe plus like others said she is what she is.

In general though I've stopped following instamums as it just made me feel inadequate. Feel much better for it.

This thread is really interesting.

Original poster
Hmmmmx100 · 27/08/2017 17:35

I do worry that any 'instamums' that come across this thread would immediately dismiss it at hating, when actually a lot of posters here have given measured and valid reasons for being turned off by them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hmmmmx100 · 27/08/2017 17:37

And that's kinda what I set out to find out when I created this thread, to see if it made anyone else as uncomfortable as it makes me.

OP posts:
Longislandicetee · 27/08/2017 17:47

Hi MrsCBSmile. Thanks. So I get the issue if it's about them not being transparent about being paid to flog stuff. The threads on this a while ago were so fascinating.

I am more baffled if the issue is they're commercialising their children - it makes me muse out loud, what's the difference between them and any of us who post on social media? (Having said this the OPs starter for 10 didn't seem to be on either of these points).

MrsFurphy · 27/08/2017 17:53

Anyone else follow Martha (H.E.A.)?

I think she's lovely. Very down to earth.

She does get sent some stuff but there's just something very likeable about her. I hope she doesn't change Smile

TheLegendOfBeans · 27/08/2017 17:58

800msprint nails it.

And the worst thing is she used to do some really uplifting, amazing, informative and genuinely "woman to woman" blog posts in exactly that vein.

I can't hate on her but it's sad.

Gunpowder · 27/08/2017 18:01

The using your kids thing is interesting, especially if you are getting paid. Obvs kids have been used in other paid media for ages but it's so regulated with licenses and so forth, they are usually quite well protected.

I wonder if we will get to a point in the future where instakids (is that a thing?!) are suing their parents?

Theycalledmethewildrose · 27/08/2017 18:05

Commervialising their children is one of the things that makes me uncomfortable. I use social media and I put photos up of my children. I limit the audience though whereas all the 'big' youtubers have hundreds and thousands of viewers.

I followed a particular YouTube family for some time. I'm unsure why I was quite so fascinated by them. When their first chold was born they put very personal information on the internet. Is there a difference between that and watching real life documentaries? I think so. For one, when we watch tv, we watch a 'period' of a child's life, be it birth, starting school, social interaction etc. You tubers blog daily episodes of their children's lives. For me, that is an invasion of privacy that is unparalleled by tv. Once the children are old enough to understand what is going on, how the web works, how millions of people have seen them grow up, it becomes like the Truman show.

The children may well appreciate their 'celebrity' status but it is alss possible they won't.

Of course the same could be said of children of minor celebrities. Interestingly though, children of big(ger) celebrities strive to keep out of the public eye.

Personally I don't like it but of course that is just my own opinion.

Ceefax101 · 27/08/2017 18:08

I don't follow Instamums but I do love Totes Innapropes on FB. And Kay's Good Cooking. No one makes a bacon sandwich like Kay.

eekmumps · 27/08/2017 18:18

@MrsFurphy yes I follow Martha. She seems lovely and really funny. Really likeable. Also Hannah Michalak seems lovely (probably more of a youtuber than instamum) but very open about what she gets sent and did a video about 3rd trimester of pregnancy and was very open and honest about stretch marks etc.

I often think I'd love to do this to earn a bit of extra cash and stay at home with the kids but in all honestly I'm not sure I could get past the fact that id essentially be selling out my kids... I just don't know if there's a way of doing it that doesn't expose them in quite the same way..?

GirlFromMars1 · 27/08/2017 18:25

Agreed Martha from HEA comes across really well. I still follow her whereas i got to a point with MoD where i was just bored of her whining. Dear Orla is another really good one where she is using her IG for good causes and her writing is beautiful.

CuteOrangeElephant · 27/08/2017 20:33

I really like Chloeandbeans on instagram, her children are so cute too!

TheOtherGirl · 27/08/2017 21:22

I am slightly addicted to the interiors instagrammers. I have pinched quite a few ideas off them.

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 27/08/2017 21:30

can i recommend Charlotte Taylor?

i like quite a few of the channel mum bloggers actually

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 27/08/2017 21:31

*Charlotte louise Taylor and also Kerry Conway

balletvalet · 27/08/2017 23:06

I am slightly addicted to the interiors instagrammers. I have pinched quite a few ideas off them.

Ooo any recommendations? Currently doing up our new house!

TealStar · 28/08/2017 07:31

Ballet:

My faves (who seem genuinely lovely and actually talented, and who are clearly doing it for the love of it - not for instafame - with v little brand plugging it seems and if they are doing it they're doing it well... I don't think they'd let any old monstrosity over their thresholds) are Cecelia Ahern, Around Houses, Cowboy Kate, This Style Rocks, Kelldon, Brooklands, My Art Deco Jemenfrou, Lisa Dawson, Patti Robbins... all quite niche, alternative, and not a beige sofa in sight!

800msprint · 28/08/2017 07:39

I also love junkaholique. Not really an instamum or interiors but she has lovely photos and gets a good balance right. I leave feeling inspired not inadequate. Lovely family.

Runningyogabooze · 28/08/2017 07:42

I so agree with you!

What REALLY galls me is the way they think they're such trailblazers. They seem to believe that no one before them admitted to finding it hard having children, coping with the post baby body changes etc.

That's what drives me mad - they think they're revolutionaries but it's the same old stuff women have always gone through - it's just new to these tedious, self-obsessed women.

I do like Does My Bum Look 40 though, it's some of the slightly younger 'look at my naked childbirth ravaged body - I'm so proud of it' and 'here I am on my sponsored holiday' ones that do my head in.

Go away! You're boring!

Runningyogabooze · 28/08/2017 07:46

BTW I've worked with some of the women mentioned on here and A) they get paid a fortune for eg one sponsored post and B) they are real divas, totally believing their own press releases. Ugh!

StripyHorse · 28/08/2017 07:56

I follow one because she was a colleague before we both left the company to do other things. I remember seeing her round the shops (pre blog) and she was finding motherhood hard - something she admits to in the blog but which is easy to forget when I see perfect pics of her home, or her in a fab new outfit. Knowing that actually helps remind me that it is highly edited. I don't post pics on Instagram that make my house look messy so why should she.

With respect to the freebies - yeah I would love to be given clothes, meals out, home stuff etc but I value privacy more so if I had a blog it would be boring and picture free.

fivefour3twoone · 28/08/2017 07:56

I just read one from someone saying how tough it was "raising the future", honestly, ffs get over yourself.

Mothervulva · 28/08/2017 08:11

I've had such a nosey bitch weekend looking up all these people, I love the opportunity to have a 'virtual snoop'. The Highgate family one is like a fantasy life but it's all too tousled beach hair dappled lighting, nice but not that interesting. The MoD was mainly talking about a Boden dress whilst on holiday in Cornwall, so reminds me of most mum's I ever met back in North London. The best one I found was stylemesunday. Her eldest daughter has a medical condition and she talks candidly about her alopecia, she seemed like an interesting and strong woman.

Mothervulva · 28/08/2017 08:12

No need for that apostrophe after mum.

Arsenicinthesugarbowl · 28/08/2017 08:18

I already followed a few instamums for various reasons (fickle though I am) but have now started following more because of this thread!Confused Can someone tell me the instagram name of the Esther one please? She sounds like my cup of tea! Also any recommendations for women like me who are 40 with older kids but love a good nosey and likes learning new stuff but not necessarily instamummies misses point of thread