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?

I think its highly unlikely anyone would do that! I don't think that sort of speculation is helpful to this kind of discussion tbh.

It already happened with a couple who blogged in the U.S. ...

www.pressreader.com/uk/grazia-uk/20160816/283016874108244

As has been said before once they're all fawning over the same thing, eg that gopping M&S dress I lose interest.

And yes the spelling it's drawer ffs not draw.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3604832/This-like-telling-bunch-kids-parents-getting-divorced-YouTube-couple-nearly-NINE-MILLION-subscribers-announce-splitting-citing-pressure-daily-blogging.html

Already happened...

I lose interest as well when they are trying to make something into the next 'it dress' or 'it shoes'. That awful M&S dress (hard to pin down which one - we could be referring to different ones there have been so many) or those lilac M&S shoes that looked like weird shoe/glove mutations.

A lot of brands are desperately trying to make something take off and when the product is obviously a bit shit then it looks super fake and the blogger loses all credibility.

Yes Reboot! The unflattering moon and stars dress or that peach horror of the moment? 😂 And yes the shoes that look like giant versions of flower fairy doll slip ons 🙈. M&S are struggling eh.

Divorcing the shit out of life . To answer @SurfingUSA, you are right, we included my eldest in a couple of insta stories (and a b&w photo on my birthday yesterday). There will be no fixed images of her on our feed anymore and I’ve written a post (ironically titled ‘Private: No access’) highlighting where we are with ‘sharenting’. Again, we aren’t necessarily getting it right but we’re trying to open it up to discussion at this point, while rethinking things. And I am not sure if it was me you were referring to about the bought stuff but if it was, the items are definitely bought - the jumpsuit listed this month under #stuffivebought cost £35. And it is wipe clean.

Hi MP. I wasn't referring to you re clothes. I thought not naming people might be better in this thread - but perhaps not.

Obviously it's your and everybody else's choice re kids on insta. I just noticed you'd previously drawn a line in the sand so wondered why the change.

@badmotherpukka nice to see you on here again I would like to ask a question, no obligation to answer obviously...Regarding the use of children in/on 'the squares'; does it affect the amount of ads/collabs/whatevers that companies offer you if you don't show your dc? I'm obviously talking about stuff that isn't related to children, but you as a woman/mother. For example the ad/collab/paid partnership? you did with Fairy, would you have received the same payment if it was just you and your husband in the picture?

Also motherpukka I'm pretty sure no-one is questioning your 'influencer ethics' - you've always been upfront about Ads and flex appeal is admirable.

@SurfingUSA fair enough. We are not having her on the fixed feed going forward. Occasionally on insta stories if she wants (with permission) and these automatically delete after 24 hours. But yes, working it out at present while interviewing for Real Life Jobs. Ah got the wrong end of the stick about bought stuff but if you are in the market for a wipe-clean £35 velour jumpsuit, I’ve got one out back #alwaysinfluencing

@mastershelp hi, so we are just navigating this now. Any briefs we have recently taken on (Knorr, for example and MyTaxi) didn’t have children in them and there were no issues. It’s just me looking like a prune selling something. But some brands (Pampers) it won’t work because of the nature of the product. So to answer your question, how we move forward is going to be centred on brands being happy with just mine or Matt’s faces - or the back of my youngest’s head on occasion. But we are in a bit of a transition phase so apologies for the slightly woolly answer.

Neither of those were the M&S dresses I was referencing

I think the pattern goes fashion > travel > baby > mama > reno

@Badmotherpukka I enjoyed your recent story where you were trying on clothes. I'm not even sure what clothes shop you were in, but there were some horrors in there 😳 Didn't realise that dressing like an Amish person was in fashion (although tbf, you looked amazing in that last red dress).

That's the kind of stuff I'd love to see more off across the board, if I'm honest. Not speaking about you personally, but I'd like less gushing and more taking the piss. But then I'm an old cynic.

Me too. I like the honesty of the horror show changing room posts. DMBL40 does this well too.

I’ve got a good free end who is a blogger and she has had tens of thousands of pounds worth of free stuff. She’s not even really that big so god knows how much the famous ones get. I wouldn’t trust any review from big name accounts.

See I'll be honest the trying on session@Badmotherpukka did I felt you/she was deliberately trying on unflattering stuff.

The dress I was referring to isn't online anymore as we've all been influenced to buy it!!

@WipsGlitter probably but I'm not bothered if MP did it on purpose or not. It was amusing.

And the fact remains that there is actually a dress for sale out there that wouldn't look amiss on a 17th Century Puritan

I could see (I hope anyway) that some of the clothes were deliberately chosen for comedic value, but it was still funny.
Pavlova now I suspect we are talking about the same dress!

@WipsGlitter I’ll be equally honest and say I was looking for a dress for my sister’s wedding and this was the line-up/ final edit. I’m no Erica Davies. The Amish one looked great on the hanger - as is the case with most things I find. Not sure how it’s sold out though? I didn’t tag the shop.

@Badmotherpukka just want to say thank you for engaging with this and not flouncing around on stories calling the whole of MN bullies, because that really makes a mockery of those of us who have found this forum an absolute lifeline.

Pavlova is that the dress that has been left on a wardrobe door for obvious reasons? 😏