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 don’t see the problem with attending an event. That’s not an ad. I just have a real issue with people charging a fee to promote a charity. Don’t get involved if you aren’t willing to do something for free!

Is it Reboot? How interesting. If it's gifted they don't have to disclose it anyway 😀. That's how the alcohol promotion is sidestepped as someone said upthread #ginsoddeninstas

The ban of Botox advertising is interesting as some influencers have skirted right around the edges of that.

Funny that you should mention Botox and the ladies who lunch, Surfing, as clicking through the Wardrobe Icons photos earlier I thought some of the attendees looked a little bit tight and shiny in the forehead. #nonames

I do have an issue with the endless lunches/dinners which we as consumers are paying for.

And I agree Nipersvest they seem so nepotistic. It's so interesting who is 'in'. Is it just follower numbers? They are not just Londoners though.

Or paid for with “vouchers” or the omnipresent “gift card” or just your common or garden “small press discount”

#nevercash
#costhenitwouldbeanAD

I'm pretty certain I've seen alcohol being advertised and disclosed with #ad. There were loads of the usual suspects promoting some sort of Gordons pink gin a few months ago (Christmas?). What are the rules regarding alcohol advertising?

Re your original AIBU Grizzly (someone may have already said this) I think it isn't sustainable full stop so most will be as 'unethical' as they can get away with to cash in while they can. There can't be more than 3 'books' in it for the 'writers' and the kids will grow up quick enough and the fashion bloggers will get too old. Maybe the interiors folk have the best hope for longevity, but they'll have to be talented past just decorating their living room once in this season's style.

You can advertise alcohol but only under certain conditions. Given the strictness of the rules I would be surprised if any brand didn't provide guidance to the influencer on how to present it to their followers - so I can't imagine any 'gifts' wouldn't be provided with some element of control and therefore - ad. If the brands didn't do this, it would be pretty irresponsible of them I think?

www.asa.org.uk/asset/A16332A3%2D5F4F%2D44F3%2D999DFD2BD7159F8F/

Sorry that link was for broadcast ads, but non broadcast isn't too dissimilar

www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/alcohol-general.html

I don't care about paying for lunches but it grates when some of them keep complaining about how busy they are and have so much work on and they are so stressed Give me a job where I can get dressed up and go for free lunches everyday and hang out with the #babes

I can think of two instagrammers off the top of my head that have this week featured alcohol on instastories with no #AD as the alcohol was a gift so the brand mustn't have editorial control.

You'd think the ASA would be all over that.

Definitely London centric and same faces at breakfast meeting. Even the newer ones with less than 20k followers are gifted expensive items and hosted. Won’t mention the name of one I follow but in the last week or so she has been gifted Wyse cashmere and Votary skincare, in addition to Finery etc. None of the gifts from companies would encourage me to buy from them.

Everybody is keeping their mouths shut despite all the comments about Avon. #awks

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.peta2.com/news/avon-animal-testing/amp/

The Avon dins had CB, Susie V, CB G Fletcher etc. None of them are Londoners (anymore). They all put me off products now!

Yes mastershelp all the ‘feet on station platform’ photos as they are rushing into London from the Home Counties, followed by the instastories from the Range Rover documenting the ‘meetings’ at blah blah London hotel/ bar on the way home for school pick up!

No one has breached the ASA guidelines here.

I am sure that one of them was plugging Botox on her story a couple of weeks ago, she has done it a couple of times and mentioned the London clinic where she had it done. I didn’t realise it was banned.

No breaches here, either.

But I really think the ASA needs to tighten the guidelines up to address this.

Didn’t a hugely popular one mention she got Botox and say the name of the doctor?

And if you look back at some of their older posts on Instagram some some women are looking younger and tighter and shinier of forehead!

Hear hear FlyingBird. All so well put.

I'd never come across NB before the 'bullying' claim. I'll never look at her IG again.

I'm not going to say her name, but one IGer is definitely cherry picking the successes of those with less following - 'body positive', interiors, fashion, travel.....

Yes a hugely popular one did, but if she didn't get any compensation for mentioning it (no discount, no free session, no payment at all) then it's just a recommendation from a helpful online mate, if you like. The guidance couldn't be much clearer >

www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/anti-ageing-botulinum-toxin-products.html