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?

@Flyingbird

That actually made me laugh. I have addressed on previous threads many many times the questions asked re my children, ads and I do believe one thread was responsible for making significant changes across Instagram and Instamums on a whole. I don’t feel I ‘sell’ my children to make money, I actually hardly ever feature the older girls and have changed my approach when working with brands eg I won’t feature a picture of my children alone for an AD and I always ask ‘do they need to be in the post at all?’

What works for some Instagrammers doesn’t work for others and whilst I dont always like or agree with how others are using their feed to make money I certainly don’t let it affect my daily life. I do think there is still a huge divide between mumsnet and Instagram because we will always disagree about certain subjects I guess that’s motherhood.

The divide between Mumsnet and Instagram comes about because of the MLM element of Instagram, followers on Instagram are positive because they want to be noticed, they want to be noticed because potentially it will gain them more followers. More followers means they can get the deals too, they want to be at the top of the tree, getting freebies and endorsements.. and this makes them money.
Any 'questions' posted on Instagram are shot down, in the same way that you can't question anybody who is involved in the whole MLM racket.
However on Mumsnet these discussions can be had because there is no way to monetise your opinions.
Equally Mumsnetters are Instagrammers and vice versa. The split isn't in the people, it is in the way opinions are allowed to be expressed.

@anyalovesrose not sure why you’ve decided 2 of your childrens’ privacy is more important than the other 2 since the Internet is there forever. I suppose the twins bring in the cash? In any case, you last posted an AD with the older girls on 25th March this year, so you cannot be claiming the high road with that one

Wolfie, that's why influencers need to focus on longer term brand partnerships, charitable causes and, yes, campaigns to have any credibility. Not just flitting from one AD to another, because followers are increasing savvy to see through what is genuine and what isn't.

I'm not sure it's tone - I think it is insight or lack thereof.

If we all hated instagrammers, then why did we have (in my view) a relatively helpful and constructive discussion with MP. I think it hopefully had some useful advice.

Every single time, the discussions go.the same way with anya. This is where a decent, strategic agent would really come into their own

Why was there no public long term engagement between the ODs and the charity?

💰💰💰💰💰

There's been long term engagement between the ODs and #visitFlorida and #WaltDisneyWorld.

@Mummyshepherd

I said I hardly ever feature them. They also see and give consent to any post where there are in the picture.

I’m not sure why it’s only the older children that aren’t used so much either.

Finks agree, it is the format which encourages the style. Same as FB etc. Quite interesting when you consider just how much impact the format has

@anyalovesrose they’re children. They don’t understand the extent to which they’re being used. In the 90’s child actors used to divorce their parents over exactly these issues.
You still won’t address the dreadful hypocrisy of the Madagascar trip & subsequent holidays and luxuries. For instance, claiming to be mortified by your old pots and pans being seen when people in poverty would be overjoyed with old or new pans. It’s morally wrong

The issue of the 'fawning' on Instagram isn't being addressed either. Of course it is a more positive environment because everyone wants a piece of the pie and if any issues are raised they fangirls shoot them down. I have seen posts that I would like to question but I daren't because I know I will get a backlash.
The discussion on here has been articulate and interesting, but it just wouldn't happen on Instagram because the accusations of being jealous and negative out way intelligent discussion.

Asking children for consent to something they can't possibly understand is absolutely neglecting parental responsibility. That's why we are teaching even young children about social media these days. Such a minefield.

There isn't a split between Mumsnet and Instagram, the same people are on both. The split is between being able to ask questions and debate over here but not being allowed to discuss ethics over there.

I agree Finks, also the way the word Jealousy is used in such a negative way too. If you’re having a terrible time, struggling with money, using a food bank, never catching a break, is it really that awful of you to feel jealous seeing women who already have it all be showered with free lunches and holidays? It could have such an awful effect on someone who is already feeling low

Selling children doesn’t just mean using them in an ad. It’s also using them as content to the extent that it brings in £

As if children can give fully informed consent to SM pics of themselves...

I’m not sure how pans come into it? But as you asked those were from our wedding 10 years ago I did take them alongside a massive bag of the kids clothes to our charity shop but they couldn’t take the pans as they weren’t in good enough condition. So they went to the recycling centre.

I think it's morally wrong if you aren't using your privilege in some capacity. I have an excellent education and I use that privilege to work in a profession which profoundly changes lives for the better.

The ODs have a large Instagram audience, and MOD has a 'caring' occupation. Unless they privately do a lot of 'worthy' work, they aren't contributing much to the underprivileged part of society.

If they indeed doing charitable work behind the scenes, it would be really worthwhile publicising it and setting a fantastic example.

That goes for all the influencers: donate some #gifted stuff to charity, drop the event centrepieces into an aged care home, donate one holiday to a women's refuge. Did you know some disadvantaged teenager girls don't have access to deodorant, soap, shampoo and conditioner? So donate some cosmetic and beauty items, too. Even better, donate them in a #gifted handbag.

Slighty off topic but something I remember from some PR seminars I attended through work is that consumers love realtability & in turn advertisers love relatability. It’s a double edged sword though.
The examples used were Adele for whom it works beautifully. She maintains lots of privacy, lives a life most could not imagine but from the snippets we see she’s still very relatable. The perception is almost that she is doing us a favour when she releases music, tours or shares her life with us. The opposite end is Justin Beiber because he was “discovered” through Youtube he therefore owes something to his fans. Now undoubtedly JB is probably a little shite but he does face a lot more pressure than other singers to include his fans on his journey because there is a perception they put him there.

I’ve seen it with fashion bloggers, the ones who had a lifestyle of lots of holidays, designer clothes before becoming instafamous receive a lot less criticism or don’t have to be so accountable then the ones who maybe had 1 holiday a year & shopped in Topshop who are now gifted gucci loafers.

Disadvantaged kids would even appreciate the hotel toiletries from all those #spon holidays.

You’re not listening @anyalovesrose. Why are the ten year old pots that your husband fixed good enough for poor people but not for you? That’s question 1. Question 2 is do you not feel a hypocrite talking about all your luxuries after claiming to care about the poverty you saw in Madagascar? It makes me sick seeing you tag #luxuryfamilyholiday when a: you didn’t pay for it, you used photos of your children to sell it and b: you’d been on what was supposed to be an eye opening trip to Madagascar last year yet felt you deserved another sunny holiday. There is poverty everywhere & you are openly bragging about your wealth. Please try to actually respond to questions people are asking of you

anya - even if you hardly feature them and/or ask for their consent (not they can give informed consent, which as an HCP I would have thought you would have bern well aware of), how on earth do you square that with your husband's approach? Do you not parent collaboratively?

Anya would you and your dh give the same privacy to the younger children as you are to the older ones?

To be fair to anyalovesrose, there is absolutely no obligation for her to come on here and explain herself. We may not agree with the way she makes a living, and we can discuss it here because she's a public figure now BUT she doesn't actually have to justify it to anybody except herself (and her kids, one day, when they understand fully the extent of the business she's in).

I'm not going to treat the latter stage of this thread as an 'ask MOD' Q&A because this thread is about so much more than that.