I understand being nice about people. I'm the first to call my DH up on any bitchiness about public figures, pointing out that he doesn't know them or what their lives are like. But I do think that if you open yourself up to public attention there will also come scrutiny, sometimes that will be expressed constructively and fairly and sometimes it won't. I've been reading both threads since the start and aside from a few posts think the majority have stayed on track to the discussion (which was, after all, AIBU to be fed up of Instamums, therefore leaving the floor fairly open for general topics). I don't see any similar complaints on threads talking about irrational dislike of actors/singers/public figures and after all, there's not really a difference is there? These are people who've knowingly gone into business in this medium. My point being, all those asking 'Mumsnet' (this big homogenous mass) to be nice, do you never have a moan about an actor or other celebrity, about a brand or service that's disappointed you? I've worked in retail and marketing for years and would love to remind people that when they send hateful messages to a company they are in fact dealing with 'real' people. However as an adult, I accept that's just part and parcel of being in a public facing role and inviting interaction. For the most part people are kind and nice and supportive.
As some of the IG accounts have shown since this went crazy, there's very little mutual respect from 'Instamums' towards their supposedly fellow parents on MN (never mind that many on here aren't mums themselves and neither are many IG followers so the whole debate is a bit moot anyway). And I think it's raised a very valid point - which MP addressed well - about criticism frequently being shut down on IG.
I personally only follow friends and family on IG and have a private account where I share pictures of my DC. I don't follow any public figures' accounts (okay, apart from Britney because she's hilarious) as I'm fully aware they're commercial or probably will be at some point and that just doesn't interest me. I know many friends who follow these public mums on Instagram and that's up to them - it's obviously something people want to read.
No, these people aren't your 'friends', yes it's naive to think they are. However the debates about transparency in advertising are valid - and there's definitely a whole other thread here about children's presence on social media. It's something I'm uncomfortable with hence my private accounts and yet even that feels like a violation - but I do it anyway. I can see how easy it would be to get sucked into it, especially when getting all those endorphin-boosting likes and follows, and suddenly you've crossed a line that it's hard to uncross. It will be interesting to see how those on Instagram who do use their children in this way react over time, and how time changes people's opinions of this. I guarantee we'll be in a very different place 5 years from now - but in which direction I couldn't possibly predict!
Incidentally, do any of you follow any mums on IG who DON'T feature their children, or only do so obliquely (back of head, hand etc). I'd be interested to know if anyone is already tackling that issue actively.