Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Instamums 2

999 replies

shesakeeper · 21/03/2018 19:13

Interested to read this in the Guardian today

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/mar/21/instagram-influencers-can-flog-stuff-all-day-but-its-weird-when-they-use-their-kids-to-do-it

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Babaloo88 · 21/03/2018 19:54

Mumsnet why did you close the last thread?

Original poster
shesakeeper · 21/03/2018 20:04

It hit 1k. Mumsnet didn't close it.

OP posts:
Babaloo88 · 21/03/2018 20:05

@shesakeeper enjoyed reading the article. I think the reference to stage mums is very accurate.

Hotteacoldheart · 21/03/2018 20:25

That article pretty much sums it up.

faceandpalm · 21/03/2018 20:26

@shesakeeper Great article. It’s good to know that it’s not just us angry Mumsnet users with those views ;)

crazycatgal · 21/03/2018 20:28

Good article, children don't choose to be plastered all over social media for everyone to see. Using children to gain followers and make money makes me feel uncomfortable.

AdiosPeaceOfRoast · 21/03/2018 20:33

It’s an interesting piece but a bit facile to suggest that these instagrammers arrived as fully formed ‘influencers’ so how could anybody possibly be naive enough to not realise they’re selling.

It’s pretty clear that the evolution from hobby blogger to paid shiller is a large part of the current situation, and why so many of them are struggling to operate as a business that understands and is respectful of its consumer, and actually a more interesting story.

Original poster
shesakeeper · 21/03/2018 20:48

I hope it opens the floor up to a wider debate.

OP posts:
Mumofkids · 21/03/2018 21:07

Interesting read and very valid points raised. I find older children are not happy about photos being shared, maybe this is why batches of new babies come all no to keep the ads and interest rolling in...

CookingUpAStormTonight · 21/03/2018 21:45

Funny how MOD is happy to overshare her daughters for the next advertising deal but then lecture us that not everything has to be on social media. Yeah right.

Mumofkids · 21/03/2018 21:48

She didn't want to overshare she was running bless her, so she just shared she was running. Her much needed me time. Because the 3 days the kids are in nursery and school and she's at home are not quite enough, or the train journeys with her playlist. I genuinely think she lives on s different planet to most mums. And FOD is too old to present for CBeebies, he looks older than 36.

Mumofkids · 21/03/2018 21:54

On the kids front, his entire feed is focussed on the twins. They are clearly the money.

Sparklesdontshine · 22/03/2018 06:44

Am I the only one that likes seeing them, and doesn’t really care about the add stuff?!

jainaproudm · 22/03/2018 06:50

No sparkles, but these threads just descend into hysterical screeching about what awful people MOD and FOD are usually. I totally get people's reservations about plastering your kids on social media - I don't know if it's something I'd do in this way/for money - but inevitably it ends up with people deciding they're in an unhappy marriage, or that another Instagrammer will probably get herself knocked up to keep the money coming in. It's all just super nasty.

Original poster
shesakeeper · 22/03/2018 08:03

Yeah it'd be great if posters here could just debate nicely and refrain from calling people wankers, or speculating about the happiness of certain 'influencers'. Won't happen though.

OP posts:
Original poster
shesakeeper · 22/03/2018 08:05

Can I be honest about something though? As much as I miss Motherpukka's funny stuff I really don't miss her selling me things during this hiatus. I wonder what her Instagram will look/feel like when she comes back from her break.

OP posts:
Babaloo88 · 22/03/2018 09:03

Does FOD actually want to be a presenter or something? Just bizzare that he is now going on about presenting CBeebies. what does everyone think about ‘non influencer’ bloggers? You know those who try and flog those twist and shake bottles

CaptainWarbeck · 22/03/2018 09:08

I miss mother pukka too but don't miss her ads. I think the balance is a tricky one to get right. I'm finding the scummy mummies are a bit ad heavy at the moment too and heading for an unfollow.

Mumofkids · 22/03/2018 09:24

As a viewer I think maybe it's the way it's done. Quite often (and I'm not on YouTube much so maybe wrong) people may show make up they are sent or products to try and it's almost like a review?! This means a) you can choose not to watch b) you may be interested in how the product works or tastes etc
On Instagram ads are often hidden and it's just a freebie promotion. Rather than give us a review (say of Dorset Cereals) it's just promotion. I think maybe people find it more irritating and feel they are being used for someone to just flog at them and make money. Even if the kids said ugh we hate this one and the adults said, actually we really like this one, it would be keeping it more real than a bizarre family set up of children with empty bowls. MOD quite often used to recommend products she had bought and used which was interesting and I assume gained her the position of 'influencer' she had now, but that's not really what they do with their freebies. The free hotel was used in a must have time away from kids (which lots of us simply can't do) but then you have motheroffiveboys walking round showing you accommodation and views and really reviewing and giving insight. (Don't actually know if they are given these accommodations or if they pay just pointing out what feels more real as a viewer) I'm aware they don't give a monkeys what a viewer like me thinks but this is a discussion about instamums accounts.
And regarding discussion, if someone finds something really smug or that a tone has changed or that they feel like something is irritating, why is it wrong to discuss it? It's so weird all the people who come on to shut down discussion. I didn't call FOD a wanker, but he's thrived off it, he doesn't give a crap. And if they put their opinions and thoughts out there why can't people discuss and disagree?

Mumofkids · 22/03/2018 09:31

Jainaproudm - it may be cynical to suggest someone may have another child to keep the money rolling in, but it's not nasty. Perhaps the opportunities offered by Instagram allow someone to be in a position to have s child they previously couldn't afford (but wanted) and that in turn does actually keep the business going? Babies and toddlers are more saleable than older kids. That is not nasty. It's discussion. And again, if a married couple both chat, appear miserable and make comments about each other, it's not nasty to say they don't seem happy. Perhaps they aren't, perhaps the family changes and upheaval have thrown everything and they are a bit off, it's not nasty.

HeyRoly · 22/03/2018 09:42

I love Hadley Freeman. She's always right.

BitchQueen90 · 22/03/2018 09:44

Am I missing something? Who on earth are MOD and FOD? Confused

ObiJuanKenobi · 22/03/2018 09:48

@BitchQueen90 'Mother/Father of daughters' - they're instagram accounts.

VileyRose · 22/03/2018 09:49

Brilliant article. It's about time people thought about this in the long term!

Is FOD really only 36?! Shock

Original poster
shesakeeper · 22/03/2018 09:50

I'm the same age as FoD. I look about 95 years older. I need a couple of freebie holidays, I think.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread