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.

Mrsblakies welcome! I think you're right, and SM also has tendency to polarise opinion, or at least give that impression i.e. Fawner or troll. A polite dissent ( like Laura's of mod) is deemed a trolling comment and it turns into a bear pit of commentary really quickly. Perhaps because, as you say, people just aren't used to hearing others with a completely different opinion to theirs.

That definitely isn't something one can accuses MN of. I've never seen a thread where everybody agrees!

Yeah I’m equally bored of talking about them, it’s actually only generating more hype and traffic to thier pages! I just find some of the things they have done/said (or not done/said) really wrong and good for use in discussion and debate around the whole sphere of social media advertising.

In the grand scheme of things none of these “insta famous for 5 minutes” people will be on the radar for very long. Social media and particularly social media advertising is moving so fast, the next breed of “in vogue” posters are coming up the ranks with their new/cute babies - the older families will be ousted before you can say “hashtag gifted!!”

Their concern and focus should be on where they go from there and how all of this has and will affect them in the future (career, family, kids, relationships etc)

@NeverWas yes, hopefully the IGer is putting aside some cash now in anticipation of future legal cases!

The photo is one thing but that hashtag truly shocked me.

I honestly think it’s a good thing that people are getting called out on their behaviour.

But CB seems to be in a really bad place from her latest story and I do feel for her for being so upset.

Wilding I've said a couple of times that I'd like new people to follow, but when I've looked at the smaller pages that people have (kindly) suggested, they just seem to be mod etc. in training. The next generation, as you say.

A couple of them in the last week have said (in stories) have they can't afford a holiday and one asked their followers whether they should do up their kitchen or have a summer holiday. Just yuk.

Neverwas if you don't like the genre of like MOD and others, why not try something different? Home decor, or foodie ones etc?

If you don’t follow any instamums IG can be pretty good. So I have loads of fashion, interior, architecture and travel
Most comments are that’s beautiful and fabulous shot and that’s about it

Another influencer this morning is after a free washing machine! Honestly does no one buy their own?! So far, plenty of comments with their recommendations. It gives me the rage that these people are commenting away with no idea of what's really going on. You would think she might have learnt from mods example but clearly not....

@Neverwas I don’t follow any of these types of Instagram mum’s/advertising accounts. I find them all to be cut from the same cloth. Makes me cringe!!!!! I prefer to follow stuff that’s a bit more interesting, or accounts that are genuine and not wannabe slone rangers gobbling off whilst trying to blag a free car or holiday or some other over priced consumable that they could well afford themselves without having to beg for it on instagram. Too much second hand embarrassment!

I follow lots of interior accounts but plenty of those so sneaky ads aswell! Hygge for Home has done loads of ads recently with #ad buried in about 40 hashtags, mad about the house does lots of mentioning of big companies with no #ad aswell.

Follow some travel ones instead, they're good. Or food ones
If you don't like the Instamums (which as you say are mostly the same really) makes sense to find something more to your taste.

Bingo the CB story is upsetting. She should switch off her DMs and put the phone down.

@neverwas yes, of course she should. She really should walk away for a few days.

It absolutely makes sense Cady. Hopefully people are doing that. I've found some great pages to follow. Also I have unfollowed many the the accounts I have mentioned but they actually have to be blocked to avoid them completely.

Mad About The House has been tagging ads really clearly this week. (Which makes me wonder what wasn't tagged in the past. Ho hum.)

Travel is full of ads; fashion is full of ads; renovation is full of ads; interiors is full of ads. Depressing.

I'm not sure how long i'm going to carry on with IG. I've unfollowed most of the instamums now and I feel much better to not be hearing all that noise!

But it hasn't left much in my feed that doesn't have lots of ads. I do like it for photos from my friends and family though.

I'm spending a lot more time on twitter again now, much better, it feels less superficial as it lends itself to words rather than pretty pictures.

Jackiebrambles just endless ads now aren't they. Somebody mentioned on a previous thread looking at film/tv location pages for interiors, NASA for amazing pics etc. I started to look a remote locations after it was recommended by a pp - e.g. Shetland Ruthie.

I get the impression that IG can actually be a very lonely place for many of these Instamums and maybe that's why they started up their accounts initially to connect with outside ?....and then have been sucked in by the lure of freebies
I've watched CB story this morning ( don't follow her but after all that's been discussed here had a look to get a balanced view)
It can't be good for anyone's health to be bombarded by dms when you're not feeling you're best, never mind having a young baby to look after
I for one am on IG for the renovations / interior advice and travel stories with the landscape/ wildlife photos...I don't need/want affirmation from a bunch of strangers especially if they're not qualified

Is CB talking about this thread?

The whole thing is so confused and confusing when looked at via a prism of Instagram

One one hand, CB is lecturing people in quite a vague and unsubstantive manner about being "kind" at all times (and to be "mute" if they dont agree ) and talking about being at work etc so there seems to be a correlation between both and, in any event, she is a professional instagrammer/flogger. The next minute it seems people have responded to that (not sure of the context or content - a fairly common occurance with the old instagram DMs as story fodder) but they shouldn't as she has an 8 week old baby and has to look after her 4 year old too. Why wade in then?! Are you commenting professionally or not. If not, it might be a good idea to get another private profile

Meanwhile there seems to be zero insight across the instagram family that maybe that poor woman on MOD's page who was told to be quiet and go and look aftet her disabled child (cant actually believe I just typed that) might have been in tears too after reading that very specific and public discriminatory comment

Seen the CB story, it truly is upsetting and uncomfortable to watch. It's all very well saying should put the phone down and step away (agree, would be a good thing to do as a little break looks needed) but why the hell should they?! What the fuck goes through people's minds to think it's OK to send shit via DMs? Somebody on one of these threads (can't remember if this one or another one, there's been that many lol ) basically said "they put themselves out there, they should be able to man up." Not exact quote as on phone and not easy to just go and quote but did say that.
They're PEOPLE. No wonder they like to be able to block, why should they put up with personal attacks and general shit? That's not constructive criticism. That's being an arsehole.

I've just looked at CB (really must stay away from these instamums but posts here make me look) it's really sad. One minute she's saying she's living her best life and it's not access all areas but the next she's sharing everything. It feels as a viewer completely toxic and overwhelming. Where are the boundaries? And all whilst holding a little baby. Just enjoy your baby and step away from the insta addiction.
I was looking at my feed now it's minus so many of these self obsessed sell-your family for a quick buck accounts and there's lots of randoms that make up mine.
I like
our life in the alps,
TherealjuliaBradbury (weird I know but good ethics)
Steve Backshall
FoxgloveandIvy
RaisingLittleShoots
Georgiatennantofficial
The Shetland wife
Blossoms and wren
One day of Winter
Cooking accounts and baking blogs.

None of these for any particular reason just stumbled across them and they are part of a nice feed. I do still follow Martha, unmumsy and mutha.hood but feel they are all part of the same 'group' which is all a bit toxic.

Unfollowed MOD, selfish mother, the yes mum, Clemmie Telford, thefarmerswife, DLAM, fivelittledoves, featheringtheemptynest, Dear bear and beany, mrs meldrum. Not all of these are particularly controversial but all seem to be doing the same kind of thing.

I tried to watch but wasn’t sure what I was looking at, looked bad. Do I click on the circle that says the real me?

Have I missed something wrt Candice? The last story I can see is someone mentioning her necklace?

Bored - I read "it's not access all areas" to mean just because they choose to share their family life doesn't mean that automatically means open season to pull them apart personally or send abuse.