Instamums (continued)

[MrBull]

Not a TAAT

A random hypothetical example? Really? I give up.

Seriously? Is that all you take away from what I said?! If so I give up too.
A hypothetical example.
That's exactly what I've been up against on the other threads - replace washing machine with other random appliance of your choice.
Engage thinking to wider picture etc.

Oh god it's all so cringe and cynical. My usually rational funny sil send me links of all sorts of instacrap and I'm just perplexed. How do these half people dupe so many of us?

It's just bullshit Cady. In your head maybe that's how it played out. But a lot of us only remember your constant bitching. And if you can't give a genuine example rather than a made up one, it says a lot. Seriously, just take a look at what you claim to do and what you actually post. This current thread should serve you well for that.

@mrbull yep

And I need to heed my own advice and ignore you from now on I'm afraid. These exchanges with you about this are unnecessary as nothing will change. As you were.

The washing machine example wasn't really hypothetical. A certain instamum did do an ad for a washing machine and did use #ad and did get slated on a thread on here.

That thread (and many more) was supposedly about transparency and ethics but was mainly just used to slag off said instamum.

If anyone dares defend the instamums they're accused of being one or derailing the thread.

Regards the latest guidelines, I can't see anything much different to the previous guidelines which I have posted links to on these threads before.

For a "gift" to have to be classed as an ad the company have to have some element of control over the content of the post featuring the "gift". That's the same as before. The guidelines are in an easier to read format though.

I remember and I didn't like the MOD pile ons either, but Cady's recollection of what she said and how she was treated is complete nonsense in that "example". We're all still waiting for some genuine examples of how she tries to keep the discussion on topic.

Re the element of control, there are separate CMA guidelines that apply directly to posts where the brand doesn't retain control, but does provide a freebie/gift or whatever. I believe that's new.

The guidance is now quite clear that #ad should be upfront at the start of a post and it also mentions the types of hashtags which aren't appropriate. Was this included in previous guidance?

I don’t think however everyone does just come along with the intention to bitch about instamums. That is sometimes what is suggested.

Agree, there's some posters that you can genuinely talk to and discuss influences/morals/etc with. They're there to debate or put their point of view across.
That's why I stay on the threads whether it be I''m just reading or posting.
I'm genuinely interested. Being a mum with a big social media platform and an IGer myself.

The washing machine example wasn't really hypothetical. A certain instamum did do an ad for a washing machine and did use #ad and did get slated on a thread on here

Really? Was off the top off my head as an example (genuinely) but if it was a real life thing then fair enough.
No idea as to who the certain instamum who apparently did an ad for is alluding to.

I remember and I didn't like the MOD pile ons either, but Cady's recollection of what she said and how she was treated is complete nonsense in that "example
Is it a MOD pile on? I seriously don't really follow her regardless of what previous threads think so if my hypothetical washing machine scenario coincided with any MOD posts.... is this even a MOD comment? I never even mentioned her lol! Bit lost now.

Yeah there was some mod washing machine furore Cady. I can't remember most of it. I think perhaps because they're affluent the main touch point there was that they didn't need to be gifted one. That isn't their fault of course, but there was a story previously (if memory serves me) where there were some serious hints dropped about a washing machine being broken. I do find the hinting for freebies quite grating. I also understand it's a business but that is one thing that doesn't sit well with me.

I would really love to see more working class instamums get these kind of freebies. I know their audience may have less income, but the right savvy advertiser can deal with that. Was it Peter Andre that advertised Iceland for example? His audience was probably more the Iceland range.

So it makes sense to me that certain brands go to certain instamums etc but it does get quite overdone then. When i followed more of them it put me right off marks and spencer! I would love to see more diversity. I think Mrs Hinch and Tomm and the cleaning accounts are opening up that door to a degree, as the majority of cleaning products are affordable and that's why they are popular, as people can mimic them more easily.

I guess with Instagram you do mix it up a bit - you follow those you can relate to but also those you aspire to. I relate to mums with not much spare cash. I don't aspire to the main insta mum set but that's my choice. I can't find many mums accounts with not much spare cash in all honesty!

Regards the latest guidelines, I can't see anything much different to the previous guidelines which I have posted links to on these threads before.

Sofia I 100% agree with you here. The guidelines are EXACTLY what many of us have been patiently linking to, explaining and trying to highlight.

The non disclosure of gifts isn’t OK but because ASA don’t have jurisdiction over it then bloggers think they can get away with not disclosing it

The affiliate links - have to be disclosed

The #af and #sp and (g) in tiny see through writing (or even normal writing) or buried in your other mountain of hashtags are NOT OK

The gifts of overnight stays and faux fur coats are advertisement features. The gifted chandeliers and coffee machines are sponsored features and all need to be disclosed. The shopping vouchers for asos, Bicester village, &otherstories that you use to buy clothes which you pose in front of a wall wearing - they are advertising even if they don’t fall under ASA remit. Disclose.

Tagging the brand isn’t disclosure.

None of it is new. But none of it is happening yet other than the most scrupulous of Instagrammers.

So yeah, there is still plenty to discuss.

The problem for me is that the way all insta adverts are done is with a cart aim element of stealth even if the #ad sign is there.
They do a ton of normal pictures and stories then suddenly the free washing machine is there and given a glorious joyful ‘review’. It’s perceived as a review because of the manner in which it’s shown. But in reality it’s a big stonking advert because you can’t review something you were gifted or paid to advertise. The same with holidays or whatever.
The cleaning ones seem to have found the products they like using. Affiliations are developing from that but for me so far it seems a clear promotion of what they genuinely like.
The one who can’t be named for me continues to be the the absolute pits.
I’m pleased that a few non upper middle class women are starting to become popular.

Does the one who can't be named ever promote stuff or get sent freebies?

Hmm Cady, I would respond to that with really for me, the threads have followed huge change in the time they’ve been around. Instagram has changed beyond all recognition, and quite rightly many followers were pretty peeved at accounts seemingly ‘reviewing’ and recommending when actually they’ve been paid to advertise. Now your example, I’ve seen one case off, a female asking for recommendations, tagging the company, receiving products, not being open about them being freebies, and then to be honest not really reviewing. Like I said before, I think hungermama did do a good Miele Hoover ad today, although I didn’t buy it so not that good.
Generally you are not getting honest reviews, you are getting freebie promotions. And the reviews are very biased.
If I spent £155 on a sleepyhead my review would be very different to if I received a free one.

Where are all the accounts promoting a social cause instead of forwarding their own narcissistic lives? It's soul destroying to think people think like this 😞 or maybe someone will come along and prove me wrong.

This is the bit on gifts by the way. It really couldn't get any clearer. If any bloggers don't disclose gifts after this they are either really really thick, or deliberately trying to pull the wool over their follower's eyes.

@sofialemon I think it comes down to authenticity. There were numerous accounts who were not honest with their followers. They didn’t have to be, instagram did not make them, neither did ASA. But their followers clearly boosted sales hugely whenever the companies got a mention so they were suddey inundated. Some of the worst offenders had so many ‘gifts’ and ‘freebies’ they were just awful from my perspective. But the majority of them have changed their accounts. I was really affected by MOD. I’m not sure why, perhaps vulnerability at the time, but her influencing affected me. I was angry. Maybe that’s my own fault but I just felt it was greedy and we’d been used for their financial gain.
She’s now much more open and has changed considerably. I feel she’s channeled a persona to protect herself. And she now presents as very cute and the whole MOFOD feels to me like a sitcom or show. I don’t watch their stories or have any interest in either now.
I have changed who I follow and how I use Instagram.

A recent example that was just so predictable was a mum with 11k following, who tries really hard to get more and more popular started asking about children’s scooters. At this point you just know exactly the plan and it’s so annoying,
•ask followers a question
•engage with followers
•ensure target company is tagged multiple times
•wait a short period
•come back to conversation to thank followers for all their help and make sure desired company is tagged and praised
•wait patiently for several hundred pounds worth of goodies to drop on to your doorstep
•film the parcel with your unexpected and grateful joy
•tell everyone how great and unexpected the product is
•have 15% of your followers tell you you deserve it and not to be silly
• pat yourself on the back. Plan worked
• decide on next product/company/holiday

This is how they work. Until they just get inundated with offers. And it is just so predictable and dull.

SpiritLeveller Completely agree with your post about how homogenised insta & now mags have become. Everything is the same, the leopard print skirt, the rug, the kids bedding, etc etc. I want inspiration & diversity.

Those type of instagrammers I've gone right off. I saw one blatantly looking for a baby sized cycle helmet this week. "Oh no, her big sisters old one doesn't fit her, what are we going to do..." hint hint. Some just get greedy/entitled I think. They'll be the ones who'll struggle most with these guidelines. Those and ex-reality stars of course!

@MightyMousey

I think the supposed asking for advice about a product is so blatant. They probably just email the company and ask for the product in return for some promo if they don't get a response from them. Is is very grabby but tbh if I could get stuff for free or earn money from promoting a product I like I probably would.

I follow a couple of newish interiors accounts. They're both genuinely pretty skint and are doing their houses up themselves. I've noticed in the last month they've started to be sent free stuff like paint and pictures. One of them has joined up with a more popular interiors account to do a promotion. I suppose it's just how it works, I'll be interested to see how their following grows and how much more free shit they get sent. They are both lovely though and I think it's nice to see "ordinary" people benefitting from insta.

I agree @batshite, where Instagram used to be a source of inspiration and creativity, ironically it seems to be stifling it now. It is worse where the bigger brands get hold of the instagrammers because they then start owning the same stuff because it was free and the brands wanted to plug it.

I think with the home accounts you have to keep looking for the new/fresh ones. The ones who are good soon start getting gifted loads (and I agree, it must be hard for them to turn down!) and become very, very samey as a result.

Unmumsy mum also has a home renovation account now. She's been quite anti-ad in the past, although has done more lately. It'll be interesting to see how her home feed develops in terms of gifted/ads as she's got a lot of followers on it very quickly and I'm sure the home brands will be clamouring to work with her.

@sofialemon I think I’ve shifted somewhat from my original stance too. I hates the change in Instagram but it’s there to stay, money is very tight for us and if I could get sent a hoover then it would be life changing! Sounds dramatic but if I was offered stuff it would be very tempting. The only approaches I’ve had have been regarding the entire family and I can’t do that. I couldn’t risk the mental health impact, social media has already got one of my kids therapy, and I couldn’t put money before that.
But if I was offered items for review in these hard times I probably would.