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

Okay for those who found that very clear, what about her stories where she tagged Mercedes but made no comment? Is it okay to tag for days on end and then fess up at the end?

@CadyHeron

Pmsl at the name thing. Just for the record my name is meaningless, it's my daughters pets name.

@Kirinm I don’t think her tagging it ad is going to make that any more transparent. She might have agreed a 2 year loan. She might have agreed a 2 day loan. You can see from the word “loan” and the general tone of the text that there is a commercial relationship and that is all the ASA are trying to achieve. That the viewer is not misled - not to what lengths the viewer should be provided “commercially sensitive” information like payment terms.

the example of DLAM and Mercedes serves to highlight how many grey areas there are and that the ASA need to updates the guidelines in line with how quickly influencer marketing is growing.

If I was a social media influencer, I wouldn't be wasting time arguing the toss over what should be hashtagged, I'd be going through my posts hashtagging everything just to protect myself from any legal issues and future proof my instagram account.

I get the feeling though, Sofia, that you are coming at this from a different perspective to me. What may be clear to you may not be clear to me. The ASA will use its judgment because the rules aren't clear at the moment, they may not agree with either of us. All we can do is say how we perceive it from our own perspective. It is clear that an overhaul of the rules is needed, and I think the ASA has plans to do this which has to be a good thing for everyone.

@LaPampa

DLAM’s loan car is interesting. Is it payment in kind to be loaned a car? Either way, she makes it clear it is a loan. The ASA guidance says “If the commercial intent isn't clear from the overall context of the communication, it should be labelled as an ad”. By marking it as a loan the commercial intent is clear so she doesn’t need to say ad too.

Hallelujah!! Did you look that up yourself or has someone actually bothered to read the pics I attached of that guidance taken direct from the ASA site? I have quoted this guidance a few times now and it gets completely disregarded. I can only assume because it PROVES YOU ARE WRONG!!

@kirimn I would expect that she had been loaned it in exhange for xx IG posts and the stories were extra. If she was contractually obliged to offer IG stories as well, I agree it to be misleadling if she didn’t make it clear it was part of the same Loan agreement. If she did the stories as extra to the agreement this is a grey area in which ASA guidance doesn’t adequately address.

Ive been dipping in and out of these threads and find it all so fascinatinga and not always in good way.
Once someone kbows they are being advertised too they switch off, so it benifits the ' influencer' to not be transparent and clearly label as add, it also highlights actually how much of their content is just ads and how much is their 'real' life.

And in relation to the car, Mercedes havent loaned her the car out of the goodness of their heart!!! They are gaining something out of it, exposure, isnt that what an ad is?

Why is everyone getting so het up about the Merc post? It's probably one of the clearest ad posts that blogger has ever done.

@Sofia. On my phone there showed nothing attached to your post. I looked at the ASA guidance myself. I don’t see how it proves I am wrong. I am saying I think “loan” makes it clear in the overall context of the communication that there is commercial intent and therefore it is unnecessary to also say ad. It would be nice, I agree, to have a belt and braces approach, but in my reading of the ASA guidance, unnecessary.

If a grammer does an ad or loan are they paid cash as well as given the product?

@Halfpastfreckle

Honestly, those car ads couldn't be any clearer.

I have seen stuff posted and had no clue from the text if the blogger was gifted the item, being paid or had bought it themselves. It doesn't bother me personally but appreciate it bothers others.

My "issue" with this thread is the amount of times carious posters go on about there bring no #ad yet to my knowledge in those given examples there was no legal requirement.

Exactly, nipers, I wouldn't be arguing whether I should tag the first post and then none of the subsequent, I wouldn't be arguing over whether gifts have to be tagged, I wouldn't be arguing whether I should tag a paid for bag if I already posted it on a sponsored blog post, I wouldn't be arguing whether I should use a hashtag ad or gifted or gift, I wouldn't be arguing that I tagged the brand therefore people should know its an ad, I wouldn't be getting irate because my name was mentioned on a chat forum. I'd just develop a clear policy and transparent communication method and get on with my business.

@kirinm

You clearly don't understand the ASA guidelines. I can't think of a way to explain any more clearly. If you read the guidelines I posted it should explain to you exactly why there was no need for #ad.

My "issue" with this thread is the amount of times carious posters go on about there bring no #ad yet to my knowledge in those given examples there was no legal requirement.

Why

Doesnt followers have the moral right to know and be 100% clear when they are being advertised to. Even if legally its needed.

*not needed

Can't help but think most of the posters on this thread are just jealous they don't have the drive, ambition or ability to make it as an influencer why else 5 whole threads of cattiness?

@nipersvest MOD has done just that. She's gone back into all her previous post and edited it with #AD this way she's protected from future investigation. Plus we can't accuse her of not listening to her critics. That said I don't think this thread should be just about "instamums" in terms of transparency every single influencer be it, interior bloggers, beauty bloggers, lifestyle bloggers etc all need to be held accountable. This thread wouldn't exist if everyone was honest and transparent.

@LaPampa

Sorry, I didn't mean you are wrong. I meant the numerous posters on here who have not once acknowledged that going by that wording of the ASA guidelines in many instances #ad does not have to be used.

I've posted that part of the guidelines a few times. I was glad another poster had finally also mentioned it.

I would think people keeping this conversation going is only good as it highlights the importance of knowing if you are being sold something or not .

Yes @Catspaws well done, that's it. Clever you.

@catspaws Being an influencer would be very very low down in my job choices if I was looking for a new career TBH! I didn’t spend years and years at uni to try shit on in H&M. (I’m Joking here BTW, I know they do a lot more than that!)