Instamums 3, 2.0

[blackmirror1]

Seeing as the original 3 got zapped.

Yes tomanychildren was posting about some lovely liberty print cushions she bought the other day, so she's either fibbing and they were gifted or she needs to get rid of that donate button

I'd like to think I haven't been fooled but I truly thought she buys it herself. Maybe they don't have a big mortgage or go out much. And if she is getting gifts and blogging too. She should look up them rules.

It’s great to know that so many Instagram mum’s are so relaxed about policies. The ASA exists for a reason, they are there to ensure that advertising has clear rules and regulations.
If you don’t want to follow those set rules then let’s be make sure that you have the same expectations in all areas of life.
It will make it easier for your child’s nursery if they are aware that you don’t need them to follow the set guidelines.
Eg, don’t worry about checking the new nursery nurse’s CRB check, just make sure that they are nice!!!

You're welcome to have your say over here lemon. Than you for your time.

Good point finks

The rules are there for consumer protection. Follow them

^^^This
I don't understand Kellys' attitude, other people are worse off yeah they might well be, but what about the person on insta with mental health issues, taken in by a bloggers "lifestyle" that they are presenting and not telling people someone else actually arranged this lifestyle for them, what about protecting these sort of people?

Its like you wouldn't say to an anorexic just go and eat some food, you can't tell people to just go and ignore it if you think its not real, that is NOT how the rules work!!!

Sofialemon on both threads you miss the point spectacularly. The law, and guidelines, are not made to suit you, one individual. They are there to regulate society, to enable smooth running of the state, and very, very often to protect the vulnerable.

So whether or not you give a fuck if Instagram posters are breaking those rules is utterly irrelevant. No serious discussion on any regulatory issue needs to include personal feelings; it's about broad principles. No one should be failing to declare that, by featuring a product on their page, they are reciprocating a gift, or accepting money for doing it. It's against the law. If they say the law is all too complicated for them, they should stop their business as it's not optional.

I think that there are some subjective points in this debate, the use of children, lifestyle envy, feeling inadequate etc etc but following professional guidelines isn’t subjective it’s the rules. When I see bloggers saying ‘they are moaners’ I don’t agree but I can see their point with regards to the subjective issues but not when it comes to the ASA guidelines. I also think that some instamums want to be discussed on here..it shows they have an audience so are arguing the ‘unfollow’ point to get noticed!

I am rather enjoying @inpolife’s #freeshit hashtag.

Finks thats a ridiculous comparison. There are rules I follow as they're important, there are some rules I choose to ignore, that's my choice. I'm sure any instagrammers who are using it as their primary business and are blatantly ignoring the ASA guidelines will eventually get pulled up on it.

It seems that currently the guidelines aren't that easy to follow and that there are loopholes. Annaelerihart did an interesting stories on it.

The fuss on Mumsnet about it all is bizarre, it's as if a lot of people posting on here feel pressured to buy things because they appear on instagram, even if they can't afford them. They feel they're not good enough because they can't afford to take their kids abroad. Are people really that easily influenced?

I agree finks but part of the consumer protection does relate to the 'subjective' stuff - not duping the vulnerable etc.

Are people really that easily influenced?

Yes. That's why laws exist.

You don't get to choose to ignore rules if they are statutory. You might get away with it but if you're caught then you'll face sanctions.

Why not admit the reason why instagrammers are reluctant to abide by the rules. Because when they do they will just become an advert and people generally ignore adverts. (I flip the channel or page every time)

What are the sanctions if a blogger / instagrammer is found to be not disclosing paid for content? Maybe that's the problem, currently it doesn't seem to be closely regulated, there are guidelines but I'm not sure what the laws are regards social media marketing.

I think it will be very difficult to monitor insta, blogs etc. I'm not really sure it is even possible.

The “fuss” on mumsnet isn’t bizarre. It’s because people are allowed to express their opinions here instead of on Insta where the block button is readily employed. There was plenty of discussion on ads when MP opened the discussion instead of suppressing it like other bloggers do. For someone who professes not to see what all the fuss is about, you seem quite keen to stop any debate on it.

I'd like to directly ask kitkat1001 (from a post on Wednesday evening) to show up again.

You have NEVER answered my question about COMPLETELY DISREGARDING AND NOT MENTIONING the issues raised regarding instamums featuring their children in so much of their social media content and using them as models for their brand endorsements and advertisements. Lest I'm being unclear, the issue I'm asking you to address is the issue of child protection.

Apologies, that should say:

kitkat1002

@Sofialemon Name-calling doesn’t put you in a great light, either. ASA guidelines are very clear, even for gifts, and @Fruitbowl2 posted those guidelines earlier in the thread. The term ‘influencer’ was coined for a reason - Instagram is a more intimate form of media. Sadly, some people are more vulnerable to that influence than others, for all kind of reasons.

@Sofialemon ASA and CAP pick target areas and focus on those. Instamums might be one of those areas, or not. They also respond to complaints and I’m sure they’ll be seeing more of them.

Sofia, I actually agree with you that my example was probably a little extreme and that the instamums aren’t professionally held to account so it is different. What I mean is that there are professional rules in place and when they are being pointed out to the instamums just laughing at them and saying unfollow rather than applying them is daft. I can see that they didn’t know the rules but once pontedboutbtheybshould follow them.
If I was to open a nursery and didn’t know the rule I would get professional advice. I know the instamums haven’t asked for the advice but once they are told what the rules are they should follow them, not just giggle and say ‘you all moan and are jealous!

The job of the influencer is to influence. And some of them are really good at it.

@Sofialemon
@finks100
I have known of sole traders with significantly less income than the Instamums mentioned in this thread being targeted by CAP. They should be taking it seriously.

The child protection comments are just ludicrous!! What exactly is the worry regards children being shown on insta?

Fruitbowl call me a div all you like, you do come across as really bitchy.