Instamums 2

[shesakeeper]

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

The FOD videos yesterday. The mini eggs and then the being in buggy running without being strapped in. 2 major issues.

I hate seeing babies and toddlers in buggies not strapped in as just takes a small stone on the ground and they'll be thrown out.

And this is the issue of parenting instagram. You will be judged and maybe it's not fair. But actually you are putting yourself out there as a product now. It's not just a dad on instagram.

Saw this post last night from Stylemesunday and the bit I've highlighted. basically I want free stuff to take on holiday please.

Omg fod's dancing, it's clear he thinks it's actually amazing, CRINGE

Loving this thread!

Totally I saw that from stylemesunday last night and felt disappointed! I thought, jeez even she’s at it! I have always felt her account was one of the more ‘genuine’ ones.

I’m reallt enjoying this thread. I love insta but it’s all feeling a bit murky in some ways. I’m starting to read non-ad posts from these accounts with massive amounts of scepticism!

I had always liked StyleMeSunday as had followed each other long before her account blew up to what it is now.
She no longer follows me and after seeing her latest beg for free holiday clothes question asking for small brand recommendations for her holiday,I have now unfollowed her too.
So now the only (well known) Instamum I follow is MP.As I've said before, reason for this is that I have always enjoyed her writing style.Also as a woman who had worked hard to get to the level I did in a male dominated job.As soon as I finally had my child, there was no opportunity for me to go back with flexible hours.They made it impossible.All my years of experience were lost.
And to the people once again on here saying "Unfollow" I have,but because I still follow MP,Posts from MOD etc keep showing up in my suggested follows or videos I might like.

Yes this thread has made me relieved that's it's not just me that thinks it's all a little bit wrong.

I need to use Instagram for my business but I don't really like it. The whole stories thing doesn't sit well with me either. It just feels one step away from a complete virtual reality!

There are still some folk I like following but they are not instamums. Totally agree feels very mean girls club. Yes we're a village/women supporting women - oh, but only as long as you tow the party (my) line and fawn me with comments and free shit.

Also think mod getting so much stick as she's gone from midwife to grabber. She could have donated that holiday. One post on stories about birth stories does not make you the old midwife again. I think I feel angry because it's grabby people like her that are so popular whereas other folk are doing so much more but don't have the following. Take charlotte Philby - she's just done some great journalism and awareness raising for how understaffed midwives are.

How two people doing not a lot other than cliqued bad dad parenting and wearing free clothes be so popular I don't know. Yeh that's why I don't like Instagram.

The only instamum that I really can't be doing with is the yes Mum. Not because of her but because of those cards. They drive me mad. 'I will breathe today'. 'I am strong because I have muscles'. 'I am loved because I have hands'. 🙄But then Iv never been one for being inspired by things like that and if people buy into that, looking at a card with writing on and feeling better for it then it's all good and if she makes money of the back of it then good for her. I just tend to roll my eyes at them.

I've noticed several times MOD whacks up a midwife post after there is pushback on her Instagram about advertising. I bet a lot of her newer followers don't even realise she is a midwife - just that she is a privileged mother of four photogenic daughters.

Stylememos is travelling back from South Africa with the same brand of luggage MOD is using on her current trip. The brand was tagged by both of them, but there's no disclosure of it being the advertising I assume it is.

Oh that's a total blag from Stylemesunday, even though she's trying to frame it as a good deed.

That's the reason I unfollowed MOD the first time. 'My washing machine has broken, can anyone recommend a new one?' Cue hundreds of people taking time out their day to comment because they thought that she actually wanted and valued their opinion when all she was really after was a freebie. Which she got.

It's sickening.

'Small brand shout outs' should really be renamed 'Free stuff I've been sent'

The Meldrums must have a massive amount of money behind them. There is no way in gods green earth that they live the way they do only on the income they get from social media (massive house in expensive area, 2 cars (one of which is a BMW) several holidays a year (always 2 weeks) recently added a garage conversion to their house and has their kitchen redone, expensive clothes and jewellery and household gadgets etc
It looks like her parents have money also

It’s all good but it’s a little patronising when they make out that they are really normal and just get by on their income from you tube and that it’s not a big deal to do/have all of the above.

FOD is going full on CBeebies audition on his instastories.

I doubt MOD could have donated the holiday if it’s a sponsored advertising gig. A few comments on her posts saying ‘don’t feel you need to tag #ad because of the haters’, followers are kind of missing the point there, she’s now tagging because ASA guidelines state she has to.

Those that don’t tag will just end up being reported now their audience is wising up to the sheer volume of promotional posts.

Going back to NB from earlier in the thread. It was hideous how she treated Asha but sadly that is how she treats all her friends. I feel sad for her, she seems lost. She started vintage, she’s tried vegan, she’s even attempted poetry and now she’s a mental health expert! It is such bullshit, she had a very supportive bunch of friends but if they didn’t fit in with her blogging/blogging theme that week then they were out. It’s painful. While I’m very keen to see mental health awareness I find her page embarrassing and patronising.
She, like so many other instamummies either came from a privileged background or married into one, nobody just does this from scratch.she couldn’t hold down a job.

I can't bare to look at style me Sundays page.... She's always showing the finger. I find it really rude. I also feel she's just the token person in the clique.... You know just so its diverse... but not at all surprised by her openly begging. I don't think they have a clue how they come across.

@nipersvest I meant she could have worked in collaboration with the holiday company to do a giveaway (thus promoting this overpriced company with not very good reviews). She hardly needed another luxury holiday. It seems she spends more nights away at luxury hotels than she does at home.

I don't know how I am on the same planet as some of the fan base. How can it not be obvious? Nothing about those people's lived are like the average parent. It sounds exhausting but not in a good way. I think they will regret it all in long run. Documenting so much of life.

@VileyRose it puts me in mind of the people who spend an entire gig with their phone in the air filming it, when they should be dancing and enjoying it all

TBH not to bring the trans issue into this but stylemesunday lost me when she posted something about including all women in IWD including women who were women on some days but not others

Who is NB?

Wow, that 'small brand promo' as a way of getting free shit is awful isn't it, especially as it is made out as a good deed out of the goodness of their hearts. Slightly disappointed with stylemesunday (she is soooooo beautiful though, her Instagram is mesmerising!)

Jeez FODs stories are getting cringier aren't they? I agree that the twins is defo where the money is now. It must be so exhausting having to document everything like that, and I know it has been said a million times, but the fact that this is all happening without the consent of the twins is so uncomfortable. The fawning over Clemmie and Simon is just bizarre, it is a bit like school where everyone arse licks the cool kids.

I did find it quite funny when he changed the clocks the wrong way though (although it might have been on purpose I guess!)

@vileyrose Their lives just look so hectic and stressful. Despite all their free stays at luxury hotels they never feel rested. Constantly chasing the latest hone and fashion trends is exhausting, it will never bring you satisfaction because that treadmill never stops. They will just wear themselves out.

Stella, there was also the cruise with DLAM, don’t think any of that was tagged as ad or sponsored but it must have been paid for.

Everything FOD posts sounds scripted, I don’t believe the clocks thing at all, it’s all acting for the camera, except he’s not a very good actor so it shows. 90% of what he posts is twin based, if the rules change about using minors in social media advertising, he has nothing.

Also think mod getting so much stick as she's gone from midwife to grabber. She could have donated that holiday. One post on stories about birth stories does not make you the old midwife again. I think I feel angry because it's grabby people like her that are so popular whereas other folk are doing so much more but don't have the following. Take charlotte Philby - she's just done some great journalism and awareness raising for how understaffed midwives are.

Yes I think that's what leaves such a nasty taste in particular about MOD. She's a midwife and she has this huge platform and reach at her fingertips. There are so many ways she could use that influence positively to champion issues around midwifery, ante and post natal care and the NHS. In a similar way to how MP is raising awareness for Flex Appeal.

But instead she's thrown all that under a bus for free washing machines and holidays.

It's like: have you got NOTHING to say? Really? You're a midwife for the NHS and you've got nothing you want to talk about to your hundreds of thousands of followers on here except your hand-woven beach bag?

I mean, sure, she's not obliged to become The Midwives' Champion. But it's such a wasted opportunity and, so self-serving.

I like the midwife posts that MOD does as she really seems to support woman's choice and autonomy etc as well as the importance of a positive birth experience which a lot of hcps can be quite ignorant about.
She also shared the Grazia editors 'childbirth conspiracy' article front page which was refreshing as I imagine a lot of birth workers would be quite defensive and unacceptable of that articles content.
I do think it's a shame that the midwife posts slowed down as that is what attracted interest in the first place.