To be fed up of Instamums

[Hmmmmx100]

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.

100% agree. Particularly the midwife one, shameless advertising and self promoting, with all the sisterhood stuff from the comfort of their own home. I stopped following her when she took a few photos of herself in a bikini and claimed she started a new body positive movement. Such bollocks.

Just follow the likes of NASA etc. Much more interesting

I know quite a few people who make money through their instagram account. Not instamums though.

I think good luck to them. Everyone knows its a highlight reel. And i think good luck to them.

You may not relate to these instamums but there will be people who do. And people who just enjoy pooking at the photos.

If you arent enjoying looking at their photos then dont. Let them get on with their choices.

I know an "Instamummy". With her it's mostly bullshit. I find it quite funny.

I wonder what happens with the freebies, are they classed as income that is taxable or are they gifts? Some people get cars!

On the basis the Instamum would be expected to 'work' as a condition of receiving these freebies, they would not be gifts but treated as income and their value taxable as a result. It wouldn't surprise me if some come a cropper with HMRC in the years ahead if they've naively not realised this.

It's a job like any other. I honestly don't see the problem.

Are people really so naive that they think these women (never heard of Instamums) are surviving on fresh air? They are self employed business women that's all.

Let's face it, the reason they have this ability to attract brands who want to give them things is because of their huge following. If you are one of their followers then you have indirectly contributed to the very thing you are moaning about. Bizarre.

instamums?

really?

Yanbu. I see quite regularly a couple mentioned and can definitely say the whole sisterhood thing is bollocks, they certainly don't care about it in real life. It's just how they make money, they are glorified sales people.

I'm very glad all this has passed me by. I don't follow any instamums. I am on instagram, but my feed is 90% tattos, 5% powerlifters, and 5% random nonsense.

It's the "cool hunting" technique (give the cool early adopters your brand so others will copy), but for mums, not teenagers.

I have unfollowed on facebook though an acquaintance who has set up some kind of life coaching business for other mothers and who has started calling herself a 'mama', ugh. Was there ever a more middle-class signifier. She's always trying to flog yoga mats and talking about reconnecting with herself and something called 'bliss'.

I just had a look at Giovanna Fletcher and was actually pleasantly surprised by how 'normal' it all looked. I quite like some of unmumsy mum's articles, the soft play one is spot on.
Like a pp I enjoy seeing these 'perfect' lives for half a second.

Thank you for introducing me to instamums so i know not to follow them. Or to give them another name instaburglarinvitees.

I like giovana fletchers insta posts. She seems the most normal of the lot

started calling herself a 'mama'

I like it when people call themselves a 'mama' as I instantly know not to bother following them.

Aside from that though, why would you define yourself by your relationship to other people? 'Mama to two littlies, wifey to a big man'. Ugh.

sortitout21

I get the feeling their families in America are well off and then they been successful in their own right. But you're absolutely right about playing down the wealth...it's really strange because she was trying to flog boys swim shorts on her website that were £55. She got really arsey with folk who were a bit at the thought of paying that amount for something they could buy in H&M for £7.99

I have to say, instamums are my guilty pleasure. Some are more nauseating than others but I'm interested in the products and like looking at the pretty pictures. It's not real life, it doesn't make me feel bad or inadequate as I know it's not real life. My own (private) Instagram feed isn't real life - why would I picture the poo I found on the stairs or the four year old having serious attitude? I have lovely pictures of my children playing nicely together and looking like they love each other (often they're trying to murder one another, the odd photo of me in makeup (I looking fucking horrendous most days!!) and photos of the kids doing interesting activities (no photos showing them glued to the iPad!!). It's just a snapshot of the nice parts of my life and makes me feel happy and positive that they do happen! I'm under no illusions that these "instamums" are always perfect.

The reason that I stay with one Instamum is that she's a midwife who's worked on a variety of labours; successful and not successful and wrote very candidly and honestly in her blog. That's the primary reason I followed her on Instagram plus her husband is v witty and they all seem very naice middle class people; much like where I live now I suppose.

But since her and her husband's social media profiles have EXPLODED there's been ad after ad after ad; and not even for baby stuff either - computer stuff, travel stuf - and that's what's lost me. The element of relatability has gone. There's now a serious BUSINESS whiff to the account that saddens me; I don't give a shit about supporting small brands - i just have an interest in what life is like writing a book, being an NHS midwife and looking after four children.

It's a shame. Would I have gone for it if I were in the position of that family? Perhaps. But I'd certainly be more transparent and public about the amount of help they must have to have at home. Never admitting to that is probably the most disingenuous thing about that account.

And if you're reading ma'am; keep on doing what youre doing...but read back to the entries that predate January 2016 and understand why that success lies with less promo and more honesty.

Ps: the vitriolic Daily Heil article about rise of the slummy instamum was bang on the money IMHO. I followed a couple of them, consequently unfollowed. I can't get with your tales of Harvey or Milo being "dicks" whilst you tap way on your Airbook in your £750,000 house in SE London with what I'd wager is at least one nanny. I don't care what you wear and I don't care how much gin you drink.

legend

It thought so too. But they ended up with Birdseye sponsoring them!! 🙄🙄

And the kids are all called things like buster and spike

Choccy That's what made me unfollow the ones I was following. They seemed like one big clique and sometimes were quite intolerant of people who didn't agree with them or criticised them.
What annoys me the most is that they (seem to) have comfortable lifestyles, are probably quite well off, but play the "I'm just a "normal" working mum"... If you can afford to go on several luxury holidays a year and afford £300 day dresses or £80 baby clothes then you have a privileged lifestyle, whether you want to admit it or not. It's this hypocrisy that was making me cross every time I saw their posts, I couldn't relate.
It's not just Instamums though, it's everyone working on social media: vloggers, fashion bloggers etc.
I still follow some Instamums because they're funny or seem more "real" to me.

Urgh yep -

mama to two little ones...

Wife to hubby.....

I have never felt possessed to refer to myself as a mama

I love Emily Norris. She's given up work now and does it full time (I guess she's more of a you tuber ) but seems very down to earth and normal and grateful to be given the opportunity to stay at home with her kids while also earning some money.

They can't be just like everyone but they are just like some people.