Influencer ethics on Instagram

[MadameGrizzly]

Continuing the discussion on whether influencing on Instagram is an ethical business model, particularly around the disclosure of advertising and the over exposure of children.

AIBU to think it isn't a sustainable career unless the influencer is scrupulously ethical?

Flying I'm a bit lost on your references! I may be a little late to the party but can you not name the instamums you are referring to?

Something odd just happened, someone started a thread on MN specifically about an instagrammer. Not going to go into detail, but the title was 'goady'. It made me deeply uncomfortable, so I reported it. Anyway, its gone now, but just before it went poof, I did a search on the op's user name, and nothing, no posts at all, no posts other than starting the thread that has now gone.

Just made me wonder if it had been started to deliberately cause trouble.

Someone else has mentioned it, but I'm really interested to know why none of the Instamums have mentioned the Hadley Freeman article in The Guardian? It was a very pointed dig at monetising your kids and (I feel) at one of them in particular (it was brilliant piece, btw).

They keep banging on about MN, but do they honestly think that if they shut down the conversation on here, no one will ever question them again?

Nipers and Friendly but the Instas can have a white rug in their playroom because someone can give them another one next season

@nipersvest can you tell us more? (Or at least a DM )

I reported it too Nipers. I thought it was bait. It felt fake.

Bit off topic but is there a new platform to rival instagram? I used to love it, and pretty much stuck to fashion & interiors accounts however it’s so homogeneous now & they all tend to hawk the same product at the same time. I hate all the ads in my feed too, & it just feels very disingenuous to me now whereas I felt it’s USP originally was the opposite.

I’m uncomfortable with some of the things that have been written on some of these threads, but I’m also uncomfortable with the idea that they think they are above reproach. They are so used to the sycophantic echo chamber that is instagram, that threads like these bring them back down to earth with a bang.

Oh and I’d never even heard of this NB woman until all this #dearmumsnet bollocks. So she has got what she wanted. More exposure on the back of a mumsnet rant.

Waves to cady! Hope you’re still replying to every single post about MoD.

FlyingBird I've noticed that on a few threads I've watched (and not commented on). I think someone else suggested threads may be started by journalists?

FlyingBird Or maybe misguided instamum fans?

Very sensible re names. The tone does seem different on this thread.

I'd say the majority of posts here are critical without being insulting. I think NB deserves criticism, or at the very least challenging, over her ill thought out #dearmumsnet campaign. I think 'the big names' aren't above criticism either, as they're becoming less relatable every day. Yes, they are people and we should be sensitive to their feelings BUT they are trading off their names, their faces, their children's faces, and they need to take full responsibility for that too.

The NB (mama bear) 'campaign' really bombed though didn't it? The # shows only 14 posts.

As someone who suffered with mental health issues after giving birth, who went on to support other new Mums with PND I find it incredibly distasteful for HB to try and twist this into her Instagram USP. If you are genuinely suffering with this horrible illness then blogging and posing for photogenic images is just unimaginable to you.

Yes I can think of one instagrammer who claimed to have mental health issues (I personally don't believe she does), it suddenly became her Usp tag line, she tried to flog some positive affirmation cards from some company...now no mention of her mental health issues since that ad, just hauls, great days out, holidays etc - they're all at it.

@stressed3000 there was a short-lived campaign to move to a new platform, Vero, which offered an ad free experience. Except it didn't. And it was owned by a guy with a shady business background, had Russian developers involved, could access all your friend's contact details once you were signed up, and it was difficult to leave or delete your data if you wanted to leave. So that one bombed. I think its a matter of seeking out the IGers that have stuck to the original ethos of the platform if the constant stream of ads gets too much. They are few and far between though.

Fk me, dismissing mental health issues as they must be faking it....wow.

Yes, REALLY!

Yes sorry, I meant DB not HB.

NB FFS. Stupid finger trouble.