Instamums 5

[Supernorthernme]

The thread continues....if it hasn't continued elsewhere! @Lateforall it was me who questioned Lobella loves depression wears lippy campaign. I get that the idea is that being a bit glam might be a way of coping. And i have been guilty of putting my face on to carry on in the world. I get that not everyone with pnd is sat at home in pjs unshowered with greasy hair. But I just find the whole thing so false on her account - maybe that is because I know of her in real life.

But I think so many of them have massivley over exaggerated aspects of their lives because it sells. Whether that is FODs clumsy parenting or whatever. But it really doesnt sit well

I'm pretty sure thread one's opening post was: I'm fed up with instamums, AIBU?

I think in DLAM's most recent post we need to assume everything tagged is advertising: the accommodation, the leggings, the tshirt and the bag. Definitely the bag.

Not sure about the beach. Maybe she has a great agent? 😂

That’s not what I asked, but as you like to tell us “crack on”

The bag is a good example of how influencers could do use their power so much more effectively. It’s from a small charity. DLAM just plonked the bag in shot and tagged it, leaving the charity to talk about the charity and the good it does in the comments. But I guess if she mentioned the charity she’d probably have to mention it was gifted and we know she doesn’t like to do that.

you keep ignoring my questions which are about Instagrammers (DLAM) not disclosing gifts/collabs and motives

Always wrong not to disclose.

you keep ignoring my questions which are about Instagrammers (DLAM) not disclosing gifts/collabs and motives for building large follower numbers. Why is this?

If someone has a big following, so what?
Why do you have such an issue? If gifts/collabs are declared, that is?It is coming across as wanting to pull down just because you perceive them as doing well. How would you know what most's finances are like? Is it because you're someone who believes absolutely everything they see on social media? I see some strangers holidaying on a beach, they're obviously rich then.

I see there's still no answer to smaller followers trying to bring in some much needed extra money.
Surely they're grabby for accepting things, for wanting to contribute and help out the finances and try to get the bills paid too then?

@IsThisAWindUp good point. It's obviously a gift, but why didn't she take the chance to talk about the charity?

On a (kind of) separate note, a lot of the stuff that's been gifted to these bloggers ends up on eBay. They show it once in a pic and then sell it. I'd think a lot better of them if they did giveaways to their followers or donated the money they raise to charity.

@madamegrizzly thank you for that.
@cadyheron could you please explain to the forum why you've spent several days, morning and through the night berating and bolding, and picking holes with everyone who has come on a topic 'Am I Being Unresonable to be Fed Up of instamums' being fed up of instamums?

You’ve completely misread everything I’ve already posted on this thread and going back to your own agenda. I can’t say it more clearly, I don’t have a problem with people (large or small followings) making money from marketing stuff on IG as long as it’s done honestly. That’s it. Not too complex a concept.

The charity probably couldn't afford to pay DLAM for product placement AND a caption.

The bag may even have been #gifted so all it deserves is a plonk not a shout out.

Who knows? DLAM doesn't intend to tell us.

isthisawindup it's good that you don't then, but some on this thread clearly do.

Yes perish the thought that you could do something nice and go beyond a bag plonk for a charity because they only gave you the bag and didn’t pay you as well. I wonder how much a charitable hashtag would cost?

@isthisawindup completely agree. Absolutely no problem with people making money on Instagram, if that's what they are open about. I follow shops and stores, where the whole point is to sell things and make money! I've even bought things through Instagram, knowing people have made money from my purchase. Shame people keep missing the points on purpose.

We have to justify ourselves to the forum in order to post and discuss now? OK.
As I said, I'm interested in the discussion, between influencers and those who avidly watch them, or want what they have (some have said as much) it's all kind of weirdly fascinating.
Why are YOU here, seeing as we're asking each other that now?

At a personal level I will see advertising on Instagram, shrug and move on. I might make a mental note that the account's content has changed over time.

On a societal level we children being used as an unpaid and unregulated workforce; the lack of privacy and safe guarding issues for children due to oversharing parents; the use of feminism and the sisterhood to sell, well, everything; undisclosed advertising and subliminal messaging; and the chronic overconsumption and greediness.

There's loadd to discuss with new, fresh examples of shady behaviour being posted daily!

Am pretty sure Anna Hart has mentioned on insta that the ASA are looking at their current position on influencer advertising to clear up any grey areas open to interpretation. It wouldn't surprise me if bigger brands protect themselves and are quite happy to chuck an insta-influencer under a bus if there's any whiff of a false advertising issue.

The ASA, doesn't just protect consumers, many instagrammers are throwing caution to the wind in the name of the next freebie.

I find it all weirdly fascinating as well. I’ve learned a lot about the tactics used, and I think I’m still learning so plenty more to discuss yet I think :)

The use of feminism and sisterhood is a really interesting one. If you post an uplifting “you’ve got this sister!” message with a link to shop your t shirt, I’m afraid you’ve lost me.

You know one really strange thing? The instamums obviously dislike these threads: we are mean, we are harsh, we don't understand, we need to get some perspective.

But have you heard how some of them moan about their own children? Their darling little content makers? It's appalling. I bet some of their stories reach a larger audience than these threads, too.

@madamegrizzly that's a very good point. The moaning about kids and much as I really like one account, she does call her kid Tiny Idiot. Which is not overly offensive but it's still namecalling. If we called an account holder an idiot we'd be being mean?

I was seriously like this when I read The Tiny Idiot: 😮

I don’t think that’s fair, I moan about my children as well. Not on Instagram, but I still moan! Parenting is hard, let’s be honest. I’m just amazed how many people blog about it and how many people follow these blogs. I dumped all the parenting books when I realised they were making me feel bad about what I was doing and not trusting my instincts. Insta has created an explosion of people talking, showing, making brands out of being a parent.

It's not relevant why people find themselves talking here, what was relevant is the persistent need to tell people to stop discussing accounts, particularly if it was negative when the thread started from people being fed up.
I'm not sure who the YOU was directed at but no one has asked that. It was post content being queried. But again another attempt at deflection.

@isthisawindup personally I didn't mean a general moan, but there are accounts that do the whole 'my kids are assholes' etc and I do tend to unfollow those.

madamegrizzly The "moaning" as you put it will be a USP. "Omigod, gin o clock" or whatever - relatable for mums. Who then follow, as it's more "them" than cute, flowers and daisy type yummy mummys.
Hurrah For Gin a good one,and very popular,for example.
Doesn't mean they're moaning. Just being normal parents.

I moan about my kids too. I had a lovely debrief with my best friend earlier. But that's an audience of one and I know it won't ever be repeated to my children.

I know the moaning is a way of being relatable and authentic, building up the audience's trust and commitment to the instagrammer. But it's still awful.

And also ironic if discussing their businesses off IG hurts their feelings so much.

Well so far the tactics have been to call us derogatory names (ad police), suggest we are weirdos, tell us no instagrammers take any notice of what we say and also that they are all laughing at us. And yet we are the bullies apparently.