Instamums 3, 2.0

[blackmirror1]

Seeing as the original 3 got zapped.

I'm another one who followed Courtney Adamo when she was in London and really enjoyed her feed then - but since she went travelling/ moved to Australia her feed has totally bored me and lost it's relevancy.

Plus, totally in the spirit of this thread - she's just put up a post of her son and tagged Mango Kids - but no mention of whether this is an #ad or not. She is very shady about declaring freebies/ collaborations and definitely likes "reaching out" (another phrase that drives me mad) to brands.

See a bit of me would love to try and become an "instamum" - an account documenting the reality of being a single parent, of a child with additional needs, living in council accomodation, retraining through university. However, to be successful I would have to feature my children's faces and personal information. And I point blank refuse to do that. My eldest son has a chance of a career, a life, really working hard for himself. If I documented every meltdown, school exclusion, every time I had to buy him second hand uniform, well, that's going to follow him as he's older surely?

@pjandme

Oh no I totally agree in that sense - her child is beautiful and her pictures of him are great but she did have a message to share and share it she did!
Very politically in fact and it was unkind and it was unwarranted,she seemed very immature and not following the 'be kind' political message she was trying to get through to all those who followed her! Yet, I have seen other posts holding her up as some kind of example, someone who was badly treated yet she isn't and she wasn't.

I just feel that if other 'instamums' are being called out for their error in judgement then so should others!

I tried watching one of Mrs Meldrum's videos the other day.

Not for me, I'm afraid although maybe I clicked on the wrong one. It's just seemed to be following a quite boring, average family around for the day while they describe the minutiae of what's happening/what they're wearing/what they're kids are doing in great detail. And this was entitled 'Funniest Day Ever'

I don't get it. Am I missing something?

Just remind yourself @PrivatePike that what you see isn't necessarily the truth. You never know what goes on behind closed doors. Are you saying that you couldn't take photos of yourself in expensive shops browsing, getting a full face of make up on, making the background look pretty and taking a photo with a silly amount of camera flash and adding a pithy comment about 'finding your soul in coffee' or other such twatiness. Maybe add a gin photo, maybe visit the spa, take a load of photos and then post them up often and claim you go a lot.

I'm not saying that person does that, I've no idea who they are, but when I read recently about people faking trips to disneyland and the like on instagram I'm not surprised, it's all largely staged, fake isn't that much further a leap.

I hope things improve for you, in a non patronizing way. When you feel shit it's easy to make yourself feel even shittier looking at what appears perfect however bullshit it may be.

@juddyrockingcloggs

Oh gosh, first thing I've ever posted and look what's happened hah!

Agree to disagree I guess? I really do rate Danielle. I'm from a similar background / have a similar life and I enjoy her content and as someone who's followed her a long time I've never found her agenda-pushing or anything like that.

Different strokes for different folks though, and I guess that's the beauty (and sometimes beast) of social media!

With regards to sucessful instamums/instafamilies and vloggers who may not have come from a more average back ground (sorry not sure how toword it without using the class word!!)

They are out there, for example The Inghams, Sarah Ingaham is quite open about her dificult upbringing and coming from nothing and while they started off mostly appealing to a tween audience are now on (a not to be sniffed at) 163k followers...and like the Meldrums have both been able to both give up work, buy a house, fund two cars and have various holiday by going into vlogging/influencing, (whatever you want to call it) full time!!...

Another 'interesting' comment from MOD on MP's post. For someone who doesn't like trolls, she's doing a damn good job of it herself. The last sentence in particular is

Bumpitybump spot on. I'd venture to go a bit further. These guys were all at the mothers meeting grow your business workshops way back. I suspect they created a USP to attract business, not the other way around. Their aim was always to make money first, the USP was assist that. That's why, as has been pointed out, MOD's isn't working anymore - she forgot her core message.

MP is funny and articulate but would she be so popular without flex appeal - her insta didn't start on that premise to my knowledge. And CT did the same as MOD - get other people who write their stories for her blog.

MP wins because her USP is great and she's the smartest of them.

Pavlova perhaps MOD's PR had her staying quiet for a reason. Her responses are painful to read. I feel a bit sorry for her.

Please who is MP it was mentioned on the last thread but I can't find it

I agree that she seems to be bearing the brunt. But I think her best policy would be to step away and have a think about what people are saying and then respond instead of wading in and saying the first thing that comes into her head.

As I've said previously, she responded really well to the Dorset cereal thing but then it went downhill with this holiday. She seemed to anticipate that her followers weren't going to take it well and got really defensive before she even set off. I don't think that's the way to go.

MOD must be now getting some 'advice'. But if you flog your brand, you need to.
The Meldrums drive me nuts, but they seem so happy in each other's company and united in their business/brand/team/shared life. It's a good positive projection.

I really like Danielle Parry, even though I 'married up' and am solidly entrenched in middle class mummery these days, I do still see the ridiculous side of it all because my family and upbringing seem v similar to hers (loving, supportive working class family).

Her coverage of her life is honest, and while she does post pictures of her son publicly she does not make any money from doing so. One thing though, she often wears her college pass and has posted before about being able to see her child in nursery from her class, thus giving away the location of his nursery. I'm sure he's safe as houses in there but i wouldn't reveal that publicly.

I don't have an issue with her taking the piss out of those who are more privileged than her ( me included, I suppose!) I think she's made herself and her son an amazing home on a limited budget, and I'd rather my daughters took inspiration from her than a woman who goes on eight holidays a year.

Pavlova, I wouldn't slate MOD over that comment, she's clearly trying to engage positively (albeit clumsily) now.

tralaa Mp is MotherPukka aka @badmotherpukka who has responded on these threads

@shesakeeper I know what you mean. But it just made me laugh that she said people should be able to have a discussion without being labelled a troll or hater when in her first post on the thread she labelled everyone...trolls and haters.

I like Daniel Parry as well but I'm also uncomfortable at the amount she features her son. But she is very real (and also funny) and speaks honestly about her mental issues. I also love what she's done with her home especially as it's on a budget.

Mental issues?!! I meant mental health issues, sorry

@shesakeeper

You've summed it up better than I did but that's exactly how I feel about Danielle too!

Never ever thought about the college pass thing, definitely food for thought! Scary how little details like that can slip through the net!

A woman I know from work has a fair few thousand followers and a very distinctive front door and garden and regularly posts photos of her son in his school uniform in front of their distinctive door. Scary really as a quick google and you'd easily be able to see where they live and where her son goes to school!

Thank goodness MOD has taken advice and changed tone... she still comes across quite badly though. I guess the PR principle of ‘Should I respond?’ is one she might like to use - even her moderate comments come across as sarcastic and slightly bs, if I’m being frank.

I still feel such a twat for getting sucked in. I wouldn’t have said I’m gullible and weak though. Maybe I was at the time but that is not how I see myself. I would have been the target audience for these brands and we are being sold a lie. It’s dangerous.

👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

First ever mumsnet post, hitting the peak motherhood levels here 🤣

Basically, I've been lurking as I'm sure a lot of people have, but had to say something when my name cropped up.

Everything that has been said is valid. I was out of order last summer when I went on my "rampage" about the middle class. I guess I never wanted to cause offence, but I also didn't think it through. I hold my hands up, have no excuse and apologise.

I've taken in what's been said about my son, and have just been through and deleted photos, as you're right. I did over share. And deffo need to stop doing this 🤣

But yeah, I'm just me, nothing fancy, trying to make a nice life whilst trying not to be such a dickhead anymore 🤣