#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

There are plenty of people who have huge followings on IG who don't attract a lot of criticism. It is possible. I said before, some of the Instagrammers have a trust problem, because of their past behaviour. That really isn't easy to fix, but is a problem of their own making in many ways.

Cross posted Gazelle!

@NovichoksAway maybe there are some IGers who shot to fame really quickly and don't know how to manage their brand? Devils advocate here. And that's also allowed. They're allowed to get a bit caught up in their own hype, we'd all probably do the same.

They'll fix it eventually, but not by someone pointing at them and shouting at them to stop parenting/branding/begging for money a certain way.

Given that most of the discussion is about either ads & ASA guidelines OR NB's very, very important and serious anti-bullying on MN campaign, I'd hardly call it gossip.

You're right, there's a good discussion going on on the surface.
I find it really interesting as regards to the ads, the ethics of children being put on social media and privacy,etc, but there is an underbelly of posters that really are here just for the gossip and the avid watching of "big accounts",a chance to discuss them, pull apart parenting decisions, business decisions, what they wear etc and come running back in glee to have a like minded laugh.
That must be shit to be on the receiving end of, and I can't blame them really for wanting it calling out.

That must be shit to be on the receiving end of, and I can't blame them really for wanting it calling out.

It is. It totally is. And it's worth calling out. It's hard to try and 'rise above it' and be the bigger person and take it on the chin, esp when it involves your kids.

I think it would be an odd policy to only pre-moderate some boards though. It would open up a can of worms.

Also surely AIBU would be top of the list as it's the highest traffic area so not really feasible.

@timetogetanewfence , that has most definitely happened. But again, there are some IGers that made mistakes, had some pretty harsh feedback and have adapted what they do and never even feature on MN other than in glowing terms. And then there are others that haven't and that are defensive, still respond negatively to any form of feedback and make snarky comments alongside (required) ad disclosures.

Because NB cannot actually enunciate what her concerns are based on any concrete examples, I'm not sure how she could provide MN with moderation guidelines. Her complaints seems to be mainly based upon her own very personal perceptions. Supporters don't seem to be able to provide specific examples either or admit that they have never been on MN but support the campaign based on heresay

That being the case, really NB would need to carry out the moderation personally as it is based on a general feeling of harddone-ness without the insight to quantify what and why that is. The other (seen as unkinder, no doubt by some) analysis is that NB and MOD (not singing her out unfairly. She is the only other influencer who has said she is supporting the campaign publicly), know very well why MN is getting right on their tits but they can't very well say why!

Why don't they write a letter? Call up Justine and speak to her? Send an email? No, they choose instead to produce a slick image, create a hashtag, try to create a movement. Like a lot of what is done on IG, it looks fake and all for show.

After the last thread it seemed things moved on. MOD and FOD obviously decided not to answer to critism or questions and carried on in their roles of social influencers without any real interest as they were #ad-ing. It's currently their right to use their kids on their accounts as much as they choose and they don't have to answer to anyone but each other. There's no problem with people questioning that or discussing especially as it's a new way of growing up and there will be impacts from these choices. Lots of other accounts are very poor at #ad disclosure and it's far from clear.
It seems very strange that the nastiness on this thread comes from posters unhappy with accounts being discussed and calling it bitching or fangirling, when they are literally just coming on here and picking on other posters points of view. Repeatedly posting that discussing accounts is not valid, constructive or rational is fairly rude in itself. Why shouldn't the way these accounts run, be discussed? Suggesting MOD was fishing for freebies is not nasty, it's not something she has never done before, but berating posters in the way they have is quite nasty.

But why does it involve their children? Because they have used them as a business commodity on Instagram. Therefore any criticism of the business can be perceived as an indirect ciriticism of their children. That is why the vast majority of the general MN cohort would not dream of using their children as a means to monitise a social media account and keep those accounts mainly private.

@NovichoksAway yes, I'll agree with that. Some people don't know how to handle their brand, or their business, they take even constructive criticism personally. Sadly, we all have to realise that those IGers have their own issues, it's not our problem to fix, is it?

Without sounding like a sycophant, I know a handful of these women in question personally- and some I don't agree with how they manage their stuff, and some do it beautifully. I mean, I see them as people too, so maybe I can be a bit more understanding with what they have to deal with I guess. And there are some IGers who are just as nasty in real life as they are on SM, so, that's just life I guess. Sometimes the best thing to do is smile, hope for the best, and move on.

I do think in general, these discussion groups do feel a bit snipey, and yes, the internet is free to do what you like with, and you can have a moan at people, but also it's fair to say that people on here who snipe and moan and judge shouldn't be bothered if they get called out on it.

@Gobbolinothewitchscat and again, I will ask... just because an IGer is using her whole family as a brand, whether the kids are in on it or not, why on earth does that bother people?? And also, just because they're public, doesn't mean people get to pick apart their parenting, or their outfits or their looks.

Also.. you wouldn't expect someone to tell you how to use/parent/discipline/feed your kids, so why are you (in the general sense) doing it to them? Just because they're public fodder? Nah. Not buying it.

I don't think anyone thinks they can fix it, because it's not our job to fix it. Like the ad rules, we don't make them up and we don't enforce them, there is a regulator to do that (whether they do it is another question).

We are, however, free to talk about what gets on our nerves about Insta, how the Insta experience has been ruined by the massive influx of commercialised accounts, how the IGers tactics are used to try to influence our spending patterns and influence our behaviour.

And by the same measure, its not the IGers job to "fix" MN either, which is why the campaign is flawed.

I made the choice to have a public profession and be on IG publicly.

No remuneration - whether fame, money, exposure, gifts - would compensate for my children having the level of intrusion into their lives some Instagram children must deal with.

Put yourself out there if that's what floats your boat, but children are entitled to their privacy according to an internationally recognised treaty.

I've made a choice to bang on about children's rights - right since the very first mommy bloggers. The friends that rolled their eyes ten years ago are now quietly removing photos on social media and are asking for forum posts to be deleted.

I think you need a couple of privacy obsessed young adult children to really understand the concept of children having autonomy of their own online footprint.

I can take a good guess that NB doesn't really give a shit and is just enjoying the notoriety!

@MarvelleGazelle - there are only 12 people who have so I think its unlikely fence would tell us if she did

But I keep my social media accounts firmly private. If I set myself up as a lifestyle guru using my children as the subject and merrily recommending products based on my children using or wearing them then of course I would expect people to comment. It is a business. Just as the Managing Director of BP fully expects OGUK/stakeholders/the government/shareholders/employees and just joe public to be able to pass comment either positive or negative on their business without calling people out on it as bullies

If you are a business, people will comment on both the product and your magaging and manufacturing of that. If the product is your children or is based upon your children, people will comment on that. 'Twas ever thus

That is why Instagram has such a pull in my view - there is a large amount of horrid fascination by viewers that instagrammers would actually open themselves up to such scrutiny when they, the viewer, wouldn't dream of it. Most people who watch Big Brother or Love Island are not jealous. They don't want to be on the programme. They view it as a social experiment

Fence - we certainly do discuss and help people have the relevant info on how best to feed and discipline their kids!! 🤔

@MarvelleGazelle course I did. But I worded it in my own way, to share my own nasty experiences on MN when I'd just had my baby.

Well, what's interesting is that whilst I'm a public figure, my kids have never had a presence on social media, and they won't, until it's their decision to. And yet, I got loads of abuse and bullsht thrown my way, both online and in real life, so there are always* people out there that will seek out a way to take you down a few notches, regardless of if you put your children on there or not.

So, there you go. The world, and MN, has its fair share of d*ckheads.

The mum blogger market is completely saturated. I can only read so many posts about birth stories and 'going from one to two'. I really think some of these women, the 'lesser instamums', should just keep private journals or at least try to think of a quirky or interesting angle. Lots of them pinch content and hashtags from MP etc...