#AD

[MintyT]

I don't know about you, but since the instamums posts I have really noticed the #AD on posts, and to be honest I had no idea I was so gullible. I loved the threads regards instamums and really think MN made a small change, well done us

But as someone else pointed out.... they are trying to be clever by posting the ad and gifted side of things in insta stories where they conveniently disappear in time ...

The advertising doesn't actually irritate me. I see it, shrug and move on. It generally doesn't positively influence me, though depending on how well it is executed it might negatively influence me.

Advertising absolutely needs to be properly disclosed so that Instagram is a level playing field. It's completely unfair that, say, DML40 is scrupulously disclosing but the next account isn't - because that's not really sisterhood-ish, is it?

What irritates me is the double standards: MN users are expected to be kind at all times; we must support all other women regardless of their behaviour; and we mustn't discuss topics that may hurt an instamum's feelings.

But instamums can break the ASA guidelines with abandon; present an unrealistic and unobtainable fantasy lifestyle; and promote conspicuous consumption - all with very little regard for their followers' wellbeing.

See I now want those Joseph Joseph plastic containers MOD bought for £40

The ZARA shit and frumpy dresses not so much!

@madamegrizzly...

'MN users are expected to be kind at all times; we must support all other women regardless of their behaviour; and we mustn't discuss topics that may hurt an instamum's feelings.'

-- that's not true now, is it? IGers are just asking MNers to stop being d*ckheads when it comes to 'expressing their opinions'.

'But instamums can break the ASA guidelines with abandon; present an unrealistic and unobtainable fantasy lifestyle; and promote conspicuous consumption - all with very little regard for their followers' wellbeing.'

How can you compare being kind (which everyone should, tbh) and rational to something like ASA guidelines and promoting a fantasty lifestyle?!? Sorry, but that's apples and oranges. On one hand, try and be a decent human and not hurt another's feelings or go after their parenting/children... and on the other hand it's saying you can't promote a fantasy lifestyle...? They can promote whatever they want, as long as they disclose it. If they disclose it, and someone is envious and bored of that fantasy lifestyle? Then find an account to observe that doesn't make you feel like crap. That's down to you.

The message is always centred around kindness. Because 'be kind' is a very convenient way to silence any criticism.

The nondisclosure CREATES the fantasy lifestyle. They are promoting a fantasy that is detrimental to their followers.

Be kind my arse.

Neither Susie Verill or MOD adhere to their 'be kind' mantra. They just stick all the bitchiness in their stories so it disappears after 24 hours.

People have spoken on here about how they were sent nasty messages by MOD after the MOD and Danielle Parry thing.

Ok time - if I say it is hurting my feelings that you are posting here, would you immediately stop? Why do my feelings trump your right to have an opinion? What if I was using that as a way to stop you expressing things about me that I shouldn't be doing?

Taking that to an extreme, if Nestle sneakily break the rules on infant feeding adverts and are called out on that by women and the ASA comes calling, they just produce a female cooy writer who says mumsnet users/ASA are being unkind/mean/not sisterly and the ad should be allowed to stay and Nestle carries on unchecked?

There's lots of things that hurt my feelings - I feel sad that I can't just walk in to Jo Malone andd help myself to as many candles as I want for free. Bit mean of Jo to expect me, a fellow woman, to pay and not break the law. But the adult bit of me gets that their are rules and responsabilities in life that I have to comply with. I cant just stamp my feet and have an adult tantrum whilst accusing every female who calls me to account of being a bully

that's not true now, is it? IGers are just asking MNers to stop being dckheads when it comes to 'expressing their opinions*

Oh right, you mean while calling the entirety of mumsnet a horrible bunch of bullies and trolls.

What comments on this thread are "dickheadish", because I can't see any.

What happened with MOD and Danielle Parry?

there seems to be a lot of people that almost curtain-twitch, almost as if they're staring at their neighbour, going 'damn them and their range rover

Yep, I curtain twitch on Instagram if the account is public. I'm fascinated from a sociological point of view: the social climbing, the PR disasters, the professional victims, the savvy business women, the most overexposed children, the ascent and descent of both social media platforms and specific accounts. The nonpermanent nature of instastories has added another level of complexity to the issues discussed on MN.

But I'm not the least bit envious of instamums or their 'success' as I believe it comes at too high a price. I live close by to an established instamum, with a very large following, who has been mentioned in these threads. There is no way I'd want to be spoken about in a low voice in the playground, not for all the paid partnership Range Rovers in the universe. I value my children's privacy. I derive satisfaction from my profession - spending hours trying to work out how to sneakily place products in photos without breaching ASA guidelines would bore me to tears.

madamegrizzly Part of the type of influencers you and others follow on here have a USP/target audience if you will of families/ parents.
In order to be relatable, they'll be promoting themselves.
Granted, a lot of them have lifestyles or houses I can only dream of, but it doesn't stop them being any less well, them.
Should they not post about their lives if it means some don't have that lifestyle?
If they're disclosing more, as was said earlier on, then that's good. Everybody should know whether a post is an ad or not, I know I like to know if it is.

Be kind, my arse?! Jim Royle, is that you?!

So my understanding of the affiliate links is that if I look at an item from a particular website via one of those links, then the influencer gets a percentage of any purchase I make from that website for a certain time period afterwards.

Does anyone know what happens when I have looked at a website through more than one influencer's account? Is it first dibs depending on who I went through first in any particular time period? Or does everyone get a percentage, although I presume that can't possibly be the case?

@porkiepiesky, okay, let me scroll back then...

'It's a legitimate review of both her books, but so much defensiveness from MOD. A true author would accept valid criticism, I think?'

-- see now that's a bit d*ckheadish. I wrote a novel, and I write articles for magazines. A "true" author still takes criticism badly, valid or not. So, that person just wanted to push her down a bit. She has a right to get defensive, even if it was 'just a journal' as someone pointed out (which STILL takes time to write, smh)

Ooh, look at us being all cute with words. Maybe we should become Instamums? We could totally pull it off.

oooh, getting a bit b*tchy now, aren't we...?

(shall I continue? because this is running like a Mean Girls movie. Isn't AIBU supposed to be about debate and constructive discussion about #ad?)

I won't bother referencing the other 'Instamums 1, 2, 3, 4, 5' threads that were on here and were basically a feeding ground for pretty nasty comments about people's looks, their kids, etc. So, yeah. D*ckheadish behaviour on here sometimes, absolutely.

Except on one of those threads Asha came on ( yes, the former friend of Natasha's) and spoke about a few things

Do, because I really don't see any I would count as bullying.

And you don't think them dismissing the whole of mn as bullying trolls is off in any way?

That comment is not bullying.

@onemouseplace My understanding is the most recently placed cookie gets the affiliate commission, so it pays for influencers to regularly link to lots of brands, especially expensive ones.

Even if you click on an affiliate link for a sold out product, a cookie for that brand is placed on your device.

You can avoid the affiliate marketing cookies by using private browsing when making purchases online.

The ASA is very clear that affiliate marketing must be disclosed:

www.asa.org.uk/news/Insight-affiliate-marketing-new-advertising-guidance-for-social-influencers.html