Hello. So, I've been watching all these various Instamum threads unfold, and I'd like to offer a perspective. I'm friends with a majority of the women that you talk about (not 'friends', like 'Instafriends', but friends in real life). I'm also a very active blogger and 'persona' on IG. I'd like to say that, although the majority of points on here are interesting and valid perspectives, I think it does have a fair bit of 'they put themselves out there so they are fair game and I will lurk and comment and take them down a few pegs to make them remember how to be real'.
These women are all really lovely, and hard working, and honest and strong and earning a dime, whilst also flying by the seat of their pants as to how to navigate 'Instafame'. We don't always agree with each other on certain things, but they respect my hustle and I respect theirs. What most of these women are also doing, is using their voices to do something they find interesting and compelling. Now, that may not be finding the cure to cancer, sure, but it may be doing something that gets attention for whatever reason, and it makes them want to keep doing what they're doing. They're being vocal, and isn't that what we want women to be doing, ultimately? Is being vocal? They're not telling you all to buy Dorset cereal if you don't want to, for example. They just like it, and the brand wants them to rep the cereal, and a happy collaboration is there, so they're sharing it. Don't like Dorset? Ignore it. Don't eat it. No big deal.
They aren't hurting anyone, they're doing something fun, that makes some money, that makes them take fun photos and collaborate with brands, and gets them to have a fun few (or more) years exploring the whole weird social media world. Now, sure, we're ALL reminding ourselves to put #AD on there, or #gifted, and I think that point was well made in the very original 'Fed up of Instamums' thread from last year. We got it. But sometimes, we still get it wrong. We're only human. Humans that like a hell of a good filter and a gifted moisturiser.
You don't have to agree with it, and you have a right to ask questions, but there's asking a simple question, and then there's being snarky and sounding envious. The way to approach anything is with grace and professionalism. And if you don't have your questions answered, then it's probably because the Instamum has hundreds of other people asking questions and they don't really have time to address all of them in the detail that the commenters want. Also, there's the thing of never pleasing everyone, and that's just tough.
I agree that sometimes it can feel a bit 'unreal', and trust me, navigating Instagram is a minefield when it comes to that. You want to promote something and work with brands and make some money, but you also want to be authentic and not sound wanky so that you ideally don't offend anyone. But you're always going to offend someone, and that's okay too.
We are ALL learning as we go. All of the 'Instamums', and all of us on here. Opinions are great, but sometimes, when you say what you have to say, the best thing to do maybe is not to hang around and keep stewing about it and wonder why that person didn't agree/respond/address your point. That's just life, and like so so so many people on here have said-- if you don't find an IG account inspiring, and you don't understand why they're doing what they're doing, don't hate. Don't try to 'school' them. Just unfollow and find someone that suits your life better.
Thanks for reading.