To think life is one big AD now?

[TheSunshineTrain]

I’m not sure if I’m being unreasonable but guess it’s just a generalisation- but I honestly feel that everything is an AD now.

I follow a few celebrities on Instagram and it seems every post is of a product or something or other with a massive AD at the bottom of it. A lot of the time it seems far from genuine- celebrities whose children are always in designer advertising ASDA coats for example. I guess some are genuine though.

I was babysitting my niece today (13F) (tier 1) and noticed that the YouTubers she watches were also a big ad campaign, talking about how much they love a product only for there to be a tiny ad in the corner.

Also Facebook is now full of MLM products- I had a friend message me only yesterday asking if I’d managed to go for a haircut lately (bit weird) turns out she then tried to flog me some split end shampoo - did decide to laugh at this rather than tell her she was a slight CF.

I’m not really sure what I’m getting at, I guess I can’t remember AD’s being this in your face years ago. Guess that’s social media though- unfortunately I use it for work so no escaping it!

Does anyone else have any thoughts or am I bonkers?

What's an AD?

@rockinaftermidnite - I’m guessing advert

Advertisement (sorry didn’t make that clear)

You're missing the point OP - it was always ads or PR samples, but they didn't need to put that on their posts. Now they do, so there is more transparency. But it was always free shit from brands to influence other people to buy stuff...

Yes! It's annoying because you don't know if people are being genuine. I follow a home blogger and omg it's almost like she kit her entire home with free stuff. I don't know if she brags or begs these company's for some free handles and lights. But I just want genuine feedback not because you got it for free!

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett

You're missing the point OP - it was always ads or PR samples, but they didn't need to put that on their posts. Now they do, so there is more transparency. But it was always free shit from brands to influence other people to buy stuff...

Yes that’s true- it really goes to show you can never truly believe what you see

Yanbu

I miss when youtube was just starting out, back in 2008 and for e.g., amateur beauty youtubers would create videos just because they enjoyed it rather than expecting to make money. Whereas now it’s completely normal to start a Instagram page / YouTube channel solely for the purpose of becoming an influencer.

Yanbu OP it's like the fucking Truman show except they know their a part of it!!

Also, kind of ironic because in my opinion I feel as if the beauty YouTube content creators rose in popularity from 2008 onwards as it was refreshing to hear supposedly authentic reviews from women we could relate to. Unlike celebrity recommendations in magazines which we all knew were fake ads. Now I see very little difference between modern influencers and celebrity endorsements. Also, many influencers seem to be extremely out of touch with reality, the average disposable income (not surprising when they barely pay for clothes/makeup etc)

Why do you follow celebrities on Instagram? Complaining it’s all ads is like going to the wine shop and wondering why it seems like all anyone is interested in is alcohol.

The only reason celebrities have instagram accounts is to promote - either themselves or something people are paying them to promote. There is no other reason for those accounts.

bit off piste - but do you often get pop up ads that have absolutely zilch to do with your browsing history?
I know that if I start looking at something I'm likely to be plagued by pop up ads for that or similar products, fine, that's the deal for accessing "free" stuff - but this evening I have been plagued by ads for Holy Water Dispensers.
Why?The only vaguely related search term I've used is "Black Friday" - very odd.

Also, kind of ironic because in my opinion I feel as if the beauty YouTube content creators rose in popularity from 2008 onwards as it was refreshing to hear supposedly authentic reviews from women we could relate to.

Yes! I initially loved instagram as I worked in fashion & loved fashion. Instagram was new & fresh & so much more diverse than magazines. Now it's boring & everyone is identikit, also hated the algorithm change. I don't use it any more & actually miss magazines as at least they are professional. I fast forward ads on my tv so I'm not interested in seeing them on my phone Aren't ads coming to whatsapp? I'm dreading that.