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?

How Many times have they been asked about using their kids on IG?

And btw anyarose if you look back on this thread. I saw your kids' school uniform in your story about the boxes you were organising the washing with in your utility room, not FOD's story. (Fascinating story by the way )

What does the ❤️ mean? Does it mean agree?

I find it interesting that some people have lots of followers and therefore lots of likes and comments on posts

Some seem to have lots of followers but hardly any likes or comments on posts.

Why is that? Do their followers not like the content or are they buying followers?

@gobbo it’s a sure sign they have bought them

I think buying followers and then selling ad space to brands is extremely dodgy.

Reboot, it was on the other thread in the Style section 😊

If you're an IG business account (which most of the big IGers are) you can see your engagement rates and reach. And if I was a brand, I wouldn't be teaming up with them unless they I had some proof it was worth it.

Hi sparkle, I read all those threads but I don't remember that bit - there has been a lot to read though!

There was definitely reference to @Mumsnet inviting influencers in for a meeting. Anna Hart implied she was going to be told the names addresses blood group and starsign of those who been mean about her.

I don't know if the meeting took place.

I've seen blossomingbirds and DMBL40 on the cruise. Who else is on it? One thing these threads have shown me is that there are far more instamums than I realise.

How do you buy followers? I assume they're robots? So they can't like or comment?

Wouldn't their use be obvious by the proportion of responses/lack of all the time?

I think there are accounts that you buy followers from, that exist to boost numbers.
Dd2 is at school with the daughter of an aging eighties band member. She told me that her mum bought followers on Instagram. I can’t imagine wrapping so much self esteem up in that.

I remember the meeting bit I just don't remember any mention (or dissent from the Instamums) about MN users being invited too.

There are companies that sell followers. You can buy likes too I believe. If you look at follower lists you can often spot some obvious dodgy ones. It used to be fun to look at the follower spikes on social blade too, which was another way of identifying them. I think IG should only verify accounts if they have passed some kind of follower check.

Anna Hart also said we were all deluded and had no idea how the ASA guidelines worked.

I see #AD and #SPON popping up all over the place now. Could it be we weren't all too stupid to work out how the ASA complaint form works?

I've had (unpaid) bots follow me on IG if I use the same hashtag too often.

Bots do like and comment, but they are general comments like 'Great pic! 😍' and again I think it's prompted by the hashtags used.

It’s the same as Facebook group follows. You ‘sponsor’ posts to get followers. They are mostly Asian and made up people.

That's so interesting MadameGrizzly. I've noticed those kind of comments before.

Really Bingowings I've always wondered what they are too!

Hope you feel better FlyingBird, good luck researching for us, thank you!

I don't remember seeing that mentioned, but I may not have seen all the threads.

And you're so right MadameGrizzly I remember someone posting the ASA guidelines and complaint form on a previous thread. Looks like plenty of people actually did report them. I assumed that's why there were retrospective #ad added to posts - particularly the holiday ones.

Another one who struggles with the happy coincidence of @anyalovesrose's "book review" - guess I have never believed in coincidences and not the first time that this has happened. It is to her/your credit that she/you have engaged with this thread but a shame that there are no answers to the monetising children issue.

Good work FlyingBird (and your DH)