Influencer ethics on Instagram 2

[MadameGrizzly]

It appears we haven't quite finished workshopping the ethical issues of 'influencing' on Instagram: disclose of advertising, the exploitation of minors and the similarities to MLM schemes.

Fake adoration (or maybe it's genuine, who knows? ) is one thing but how these people get so defensive over their chosen 'leader/queen' is beyond me.

I mean, all those people who DM'd Laura because she dared to point out MOD's hypocrisy are downright weird. What do they get out of that? And they think it's because she's jealous?

Where was MOD's 'be kind' message then? Or does it only work one way?

The Beyhive are the experts at this.

That comment is unmoderated bile Super

I suppose any online me space is a rush to the bottom because there’s always one (or more) if no one deletes anything - well except disagreement that goes

All that be better be kind hashtagging

Yes the dreaded algorithm. So can we expect lots of controversial posts to get attention and lots of fawning to get noticed? What an odd place IG is. FB has really messed it up!

@superzoomer tad ironic that that 'renneekimmone' says that that poster is fighting too hard for someone (KK) who doesn't know she exists

Erm, awkward...

I don't think it's fake adoration, I think people really believe this stuff! I do think some of the extreme views are courted though.

Totally some do believe hence why you get people geting tattoos of their fave soap star or the Royal brigade who set up yesterday I think in prep of the wedding

And not a hint of irony in that she doesn’t know you exist comment

You can see why we get SM mobs rounding on people.

Wonder what the psychology is. It takes a certain take on the world

I wonder what that level of adoration does for one's self-esteem. So many women suffer with imposter syndrome. Does the adoration counter that/ make the insta-famous feel good/ feel unreal? Are people who are insta-famous the people who were super confident socially? Does it change their behaviour? Are the insta-famous like a clique? Do they talk about us and them? Are we civilians to them (a la Liz Hurley)? It's hard to believe that it started as a money-making plan - it looks like people who like attention (rather than have something to say - although I recognise some have great voices and ideas and content) and have figured out how to monetise it.

There's an anthropological study just waiting to be written there!

I have blocked a lot of the usual suspects as I'm tired of seeing them on my suggested page despite having unfollowed but unblocked MOD (@anyalovesrose ) to look at the comments on her last post. They are shameful enough without the "be kind" and anti-bullying message that was being shared last week.

One poster asked MOD whether she was happy with those sort of attacks on "dissenters" being done in her name - no response so we can only assume she is, or is out of her depth when it comes to moderating her own Instagram page.

It's even more stark when you juxtapose it with the caring midwife theme of some of her recent posts. I would honestly feel deeply, deeply uncomfortable if I arrived at hospital I Labour and saw that the "host" of some of those comments was delivering my baby which is a huge shame as I have only ever read comments before about what a fantastic birth experience she has given women. I do not believe for a moment she thinks agrees with the things being written but she needs to own her feed and get control over the comments and fast.

I'm not going back to look as it's just too depressing. But I can't actually beleive that someone who MOD promotes herself to be and who spreads the 'sisterhood' message and be kind, and is saying how against bullying she is, would keep that stuff on her page for all to see.
Surely she should be telling her 'fans' that they are behaving in the same way she's complaining about. Surely she should take down bullying offensive comments. Surely she should ask her followers not to message others on her behalf.
But then from her provate messages with Laura I guess it's clear, she doesn't want to feel got at or questioned herself, but she's more than happy for others to be bulliedfar worse than anything that's been said on here.
I agree with poster above and am unfollowing as she's coming across as a very unpleasant person.

If MOD is still following this thread (which I've no doubt she is), now would be a good time for one of those public service announcements about everyone being nice to each other and how everyone should just be kind (including her followers).

What a horrible comment to the lady who called out the surrogate comment. I can’t believe MOD can’t see the irony in claiming to be bullied here and then allowing that level of bullying to occur on her Instagram feed. How unpleasant. I’m quite happy to have no fans at all (private insta and I’m very boring/non photogenic) rather than have a rabid pack of wolves!

They probably think they are being nice. Or if not that then insta supportive - something positive. Rabid in support of.. so a be nice message won’t do much l. A deletion and blocking well that would be interesting but v unlikely

It's feral in MOD's comments. 😳

It makes some of the comments that have been removed from these threads look like the text of Ladybird First Readers.

So MN must be better moderated but MOD's IG doesn't require moderation because it is a kind, supportive, #sisterhood type space and MOD is v. busy.

Rightio.

www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/nmc-code.pdf
Section 20:3 is worth a read....

I've said it before, and I will say it again, Bully is not a word to throw around lightly, it should never become a fashionable word.

If you have a differing opinion it does not make you a bully.

www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/social-media-guidance.pdf

@sparklefluff I agree. I do think many of those comments on Mother of Daughters and the private messaging is bullying? I also find her DM to Laura questionable, what was she trying to achieve? And thinking no one else would see it, seems she's not the person she portrays.

Sparkle I agree and have said so in the past. ‘Go and look after your disabled son’ counts as bullying in my opinion though - disablist. I may be being sensitive as there are children with disabilities in my family.

That PDF is interesting
‘It is important who and what you associate with on social media’
A few of those comments would have to go

I wonder how many of these people on these threads who attack an opinion would be comfortable if their children spoke like that (making assumption a large proportion are parents based on her demographic)

Do they realise that by brandishing bullying at every comment that goes against their grain, that what in fact they are doing suppressing free speech, debate, opinion?

It's becoming elitist, either agree with me or don't engage, and I find that culture that is being promoted utterly awful.

Gosh how unfortunate for Clemmie's comments to look like that a mere week after #dearmumsnet thing. Not a good look!

I followed MOD and quite liked her but this whole debacle has really made me look at her in a different light. I used to think she was quite naive regarding her expectations of IG and the audience (if you haven't got anything nice to say then don't say anything) but those comments that have remained on her page and the DM she sent to Laura make me feel like this is a power trip for her. There has been no engagement or attempts to calm the situation which again makes me wonder if she is enjoying watching it all unfold.