Instamums 3, 2.0

[blackmirror1]

Seeing as the original 3 got zapped.

Some seem to let their follower count act like some kinda hierarchy and only talk to others with the same amount of followers, and expect us peasants below just to adore their every move

I have noticed that they only seem to reply to each other. I was surprised at MoD answering so many people on MP's post when she very, very rarely talks to anyone on her own feed.

stillmissv go on, spill............who is it??!! I suspect it is someone blonde who has fairly recently had a baby?

ellalavella re: Katie&baby, yes you're right in all you've said. (fwiw, I do think she is good at highlighting things she has been gifted and paid to promote). re: the issue of background though, I do think her social background is somewhat different to a number of the "big player" instamums..............whilst, there may be successful business money in her family, I don't think she'd be considered from the same, what some might describe as, "class". For example, I think this is evidenced in her level of education, and her following seems somewhat similar (check out the grammar/spelling/semantic of type of slang used etc). As such, this possibly makes her more relatable?

Pavlova it kept MOD's page 'clean' though didn't it. Her holiday sponsors don't want her engaging/having a barney over advertising on their '8 Squares'.

Danielle, can I just say, I think you document everything truthfully on your Instagram and always have done. You do not need to do the interview for the other page. Please don’t!

@flaming
I’ve never found MoD rude she answered a few dms for me last year when I was having a suspected ectopic. MP has 150k followers MOD has almost 500k imagine how many messages and dms and comments she gets it must be impossible to answer them all.

Nice to see Danielle apologise for her behaviour last year I was appauled to see someone take down another person for their class, acne and various other nasties. I’m not sure if of these women named on this thread have ever behaved in such a way. I actually admire their grace at keeping their cool when questioned so much. I do recall seeing MOd trying to apologise to Danielle who apparently blocked her. Hope it’s all water under a bridge now?

My dms with MOD were a long time ago, pre 400000 followers.

I also agree - I’ve DMd MOD and received polite and helpful responses. I’ve also DMd Clemmie Telford who has also responded nicely.

I tagged MP and PP in a post about their book and they both responded to that as well and thanked me for buying it.

Sorry that should have said I agree with allaboardtheallergybus - lovely messages from all of those I mentioned.

Would someone mind telling me what happened with Natasha Bailie and Asha? I've seen this referenced a few times here but don't know the background. Thanks.

I can only speak from my experience - genuinely glad you have had positive experiences!

Instagram has so much good to it, you just have to find the jewels, and keep your own feed true to you too.

I've deleted my original post because I don't want to seem unfair based on my own personal experience. I still rate Mother Pukka as the most genuine, lovely and articulate voice on Instagram and really do think she is the voice of reason on this issue.

However, I do think that rather than debate the issue or vent, we should be voting with our feet. If we don't like what we are reading/seeing we really need to unfollow. The instamums have advertising reach because of our follows and likes - if everyone unfollowed in droves then things would have to change. The problem is we are all too nosy, but maybe unfollowing the accounts we feel are no longer authentic is the proper way to protest - and don't buy the clobber that is continually be flogged!

I don't follow them and I don't like their posts if I don't agree with their ethics so I have already voted with my feet in that regard (or my eyeballs at least). I do look and I participate in this discussion because I think a better way to make my voice heard about my concerns around this form of media appears to be on here.

@allergy, I don't understand why you would contact a social media mega blogger with 400k followers instead of your own midwife or your local doctor if you were having a suspected ectopic pregnancy. What motivated you to DM her instead of people that may be better placed to help you??

Long time lurker on these threads which have been really interesting.

I’ve been on Instagram for a few years, but it’s only since they introduced ‘stories’ I’ve become more engaged and follow many of the accounts mentioned.

I think from now on anything that is tagged in an image I’m going to assume has been gifted, unless it’s specifically stated otherwise. Maybe they should introduce a #boughtwithmyownmoney or #ownpurchase or something... I really like the way DMBL40 clearly mentions at the bottom of a post where things came from and if gifted.

Also now massively cynical of anyone who ‘needs something’. Just yesterday theyessmum was posting a picture of £100 trainers that she loves, tagging the brand. Anything like this just shouts out ‘begging to be sent a freebie’ to me now.

I think there are many other accounts that are similar to MOD in that it’s unclear what is an #ad #gifted etc. @iamalisonperry went on holidays last year, including one to Orlando that was tagged @universalorlando or something similar with no mention of it being a freebie or ad. Similar one with @markwarner. I like rkloves too but just looking at the some of her recent images with tagged brands there is no mention of #sp #gifted etc.

I like following these accounts I just want transparency.

I think @iamalisonperry comes from a print journalism background and always got the impression that her trips were similar to magazine reviews of resorts/ hotels IYSWIM. I agree she could be clearer though. What I did get sniffy with her about (and unfollowed actually) was when she clearly took her 6 year old out of school for a week to go on one of these trips (I think it was the Mark Warner one) which I don't agree with.

@danielleparry really appreciate hearing what you said further up this thread. The sorry. To be fair, though, you’d had a few so maybe never a good time to speak to the masses. (And this is coming from someone who has made a few eye-wateringly awful clangers without alcohol; perhaps before I leave Instagram, I might just go on a WKD rampage and delete the app). We’d had a number of exchanges before that moment - one where we were planning on meeting up - and it seemed like a bit of a swift turnaroud I suppose, so long-winded way of saying thanks for the sorry - even if it wasn’t aimed at me. I loved your page and am delighted you are back - even if for a bit. And @fruitbowl2 you are right, we didn’t sell quite enough (Unmumsy Mum enough; 100,000. We’re currently on 23,000) books for a second but are hoping to sign with another publisher in the next few weeks for a book using our actual names (saying ‘Papa Pukka/ Mother Pukka’ repeatedly doesn’t make me feel good about life). It won’t be about parenting you will be relieved/non-plussed to hear. But might be a way out of ‘these little squares’.

I'm no fan of most Instamums and find it mostly vacuous but don't really get the whole "exploiting vulnerable mums" argument.

Surely brands targeting new mums are much much worse? Think Bounty packs and all the new mum clubs throwing free samples at you and telling you you must wash your clothes in "gentle" Fairy and use Pampers and give your child Aptamil follow on milk of you want them to be successful and clever and all that bollocks, and trying to create guilt or worry if you don't.

Targeting individuals over brands feels a bit weird.

Anyway as I said on the previous thread, this is a short lived game.

I bet it will feel amazing to get off Instagram MP! I wish you all the best.

I agree with unfollow the ad ones. Small steps. Eventually they will see a loss.

@Badmotherpukka would love to see you guys write about work / recruitment.

Because of #flexappeal I went into a job interview I never thought I'd get, armed with statistics from your page about why flexibility is important and also like you've said many a time, a plan to sell myself as a flexible working employee. It worked, and I am so lucky to now be in a new job I love and have just accepted a promotion!

Because of the work you do and what you share I felt confident enough to just bloody go for it, and as of April I will have gotten my financial independence back for the first time since before I was pregnant! (2015!!)

badmotherpukka you don't need instagram. You'll clearly do well at whatever you do. I looked at your campaign properly for the first time (past the Lycra) because of another comment further up the thread about not being a parent, and I think it's really impressive. I had smugly assumed my positive experience with flexible working with my firm was across the board, and I'm so sorry it's not. Good luck with whatever you do next. You've covered yourself in glory through this episode.

A dear friend told me that Instagram was a much better place when all we did was snaps, #WIDN and #OnefromThecuttingRoomFloor

And she's right. It's all gone a bit serious now.

Now constant #ads and showboating isn't my cup of tea what so ever. Easy enough to unfollow, but they still come up as sponsored don't they 🤣

And @Badmotherpukka Yeah you're right, it wasn't my proudest moment. No WKDs can really be an excuse for my behaviour and I am sorry because I don't think I'm a bad person. Just a bad time. I don't blame you for wanting to come off the grid. It's a different place now. Worrying about what you can and can't post. I had no idea I was posting too many photos of my G until I came on this thread. It's eye opening.

Really eye opening.

Can we just all go back to the MySpace days eh 🤣 when the only drama was what song to put on our profiles

✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻

@puglife15 I completely agree that the brands seem to escape much of the responsibility here. I also agree that the Bounty packs are an awful way to target new mums. But Instagram blogger marketing is a separate discussion and you can't ignore or minimise the issues it causes on grounds of whataboutism. I have seen brands completely hang bloggers out to dry when a campaign has gone wrong, and I think they exploit the bloggers in many ways. That doesn't remove the blogger's responsibility to do the right thing though.

Oh my goodness, MySpace was amazing! I agree about instagram, it used to be fun. Loved all the shit pictures and following friends and their children because I didn’t see them often enough. Now it’s just ad, ad, ad or crying out for a brand to work with using a hashtag!
I don’t agree that it’s the same as bounty packs, you get a free sample and then you choose which option is best for you. The adverts on tv don’t pretend to be ‘women like us’ whereas instamums used to be relateable or seem like the were. This made me want to be like them because they were ‘just like me’. Yeah, just like me only richer, prettier, with better paint and better baby clothes.

I just want to say thank you to mother pukka. Really great job.