To think that instagram has jumped the shark?

[boredyboredy]

I used to really love instagram it as a place to get inspiration, eduction or a point in the right direction to go do some research myself on various topics, but am getting bored of it.

The influencer wars (with some clearly playing the game more than others ), the woke activists who are beginning to believe their own hype (their content becoming about them and how good they are), even the naice art and design accounts that I predominately follow are beginning to be a little lacking.

AIBU to think that insta is in a death spiral? If so (because clearly I have forgotten life before it) where do people find informative and / or creative inspiration outside of it these days. Blogs seem to have died, and facebook is a non starter!

NC because well I am bored!

There’s loads of fab cooking posts, I get totally sucked in by things that look so tasty and easy but the reality they can be quite hard!! I end up watching baking accounts for way too long.

NC22, that’s made me realise that I never see the Kardashians in my home feed, which is kinda crazy as I follow a lot of Americans and some well known entertainment people. None of them are probably pro Kardashian though!

If you’re new maybe they’re the default option that pops up until you curate your feed more?

Just unfollowed Martha’s happily ever after. Getting a bit fed up of her - also she doesn’t show her boy at all it’s all about her 3 girls. Poor boy

@bighooley the boy might not like being photographed and put on Instagram. I unfollowed because she went from being quirky and funny and relatable to just another constantly going away on freebies, free clothes, deals on house supplies and the bloody towels. She’s stunning though.
It’s just that jump from one level IGer to influencer.

I find the whole privileged position issue so uncomfortable on Insta, especially in relation to the instums. These very wealthy women been essentially pampered as a marketing tool to the masses.

Some people I follow today are at a retreat for mother’s, clearly hosted by a brand with lots of free gifts. Designed to wipe the brow of the ‘exhausted mumma’. It’s a world away from reality and to my mind feeds into society of haves and have nots. When did this glut of excess for the privilege few become the norm?

I know the OP didn't start this thread to be another "ethics" / #ad thread and we've had plenty of them, but it's been a little while since there was an active one and I do actually think that when those threads are active here on MN it keeps some of the worst offenders on their toes to know that people are watching and they will possibly get called out for not properly disclosing their ads and gifts.

So with that said......large-ish interiors account currently raving about losing 7lbs on a 2 day juice cleanse (!) with a unique to her discount code....I'm looking at you. That's clearly a collaboration with free product given in exchange for sharing the code and positive results but not marked as an ad. And of course, it disappears within 24 hours on instastories. How convenient. Let's not even get into the "ethics" of promoting juice cleanses that claim to lose you 7lbs in 2 days!!

Also lots of fashion instagrammers who continue to think "AF" in the smallest font possible in their stories is the bare minimum needed to declare an affiliate link. Heads up if you're reading here...just take the extra 2 seconds to type out #affiliatelink

The older MN discussions undoubtedly played a part in raising the bar in regards to proper ad and gift disclosure but it seems that when left to it, many slip back into old ways which is disappointing but not really surprising.

Let's not even get into the "ethics" of promoting juice cleanses that claim to lose you 7lbs in 2 days!!

You raise some valid and interesting points but I cannot believe that ANYONE could ever be so stupid as to believe that these kind of juice cleanses work on any sort of long-term basis!

shirley you would be surprised, there are lots of impressionable adults with a bit of spare cash to spend on these fad diets!

Big

Was she drunk or was it juice diet related?

I really enjoy scandimum blackandbeech cigarettesandcalpol they all seem real and not in it for ulterior motives...

”not in it for ulterior motives...”

What a strange thing to say @Mercier1 when one of the accounts you listed, blackandbeech, is a brand! I’d say their motive was to promote their stock and make money, which is an absolutely fine motive for an online shop to have. But I don’t see how they can then be purer in motive than anyone else.

I’m still enjoying it but I have a travel related account and follow travel accounts that just put up pretty pictures of places around the world. Some of the family travel ones are good too.
I’ve recently followed some of the more well known Mum/dads to see what all the fuss is about and can’t really see anything interesting. I think that’s one of the reasons they have a lot of followers - people like me follow to see what the fuss is about but then don’t bother unfollowing.

Fair enough @dollyrama poor choice of words on my behalf.

I listened to a podcast today which featured one of the big instamums. She didn’t really have anything interesting to say & I was a bit…flat. I don’t get the hype and the adulation. I follow mostly foodie accounts now - the little green spoon is a good one & now the whole clean eating thing has fizzled out a bit, I like deliciouslyella, her feed is inspirational. My guilty pleasure is the slimming world ones

www.gov.uk/government/news/celebrities-and-social-media-stars-investigated-for-not-labelling-posts

huzzah!

Though the cynic in me things it will make zero difference

That’s a verrrrrrry interesting press release and looks like gifting is finally going to get some attention. ASA can’t/won’t do anything about gifting so it seems promising that the CMA are at last looking into this issue. Also great that they want the public to submit their views. Thanks for the link

"The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into concerns that social media stars are not properly declaring when they have been paid, or otherwise rewarded, to endorse goods or services."

"The investigation would particularly benefit from hearing from people who have bought products which were endorsed on social media."

FINALLY

www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/98PC75H

They are asking for individual's views,m and experiences

It has even made the FT.

The FT article says the CMA has written to some celebrities to gather information about their posts and the nature of business agreements that they have in place with brands.

I hope the new Love Island lot are getting good advice!