Anyone else annoyed by these semi naked Instagram influencers?

[Charlize43]

A friend of mine and ex work colleague took up running during lockdown and lost several stone over the last year. She has done really well and looks great now with a trim little figure. I've noticed that her instagram which used to be more about walks with her dog, food, plants, sunsets, interior design, etc, is changing completely and now has more and more pictures of her posing in her underwear. She has also started following instagrammers like Zara Mcdermott, Laura Anderson1x and other reality TV stars that are almost always near naked on IG. I wouldn't mind so much if she didn't so on about them so much like they are something to be admired. She's also started saying that she'd love to be an 'influencer.'

I hope I don't sound jealous, but I wondered what everyones view is on these so called influencers? I'm also worried that one thing might lead to another and she might end up getting an Only Fans account.

Is it just me who finds all these near naked women horribly annoying?

To me it seems that more and more young girls are sexualising themselves online just to get likes and validation from strangers. She's 10 years younger than me ( She's 28) so I hope I don't sound like an old fashioned prude. I'm not unattractive but just don't understand this thing about posting pictures in undies like a wannabe Page 3 girl.

I haven't really been able to ask her why she does it as I don't want to rain on her parade since she's really happy about how she looks now. Also I'm well aware it's not my business and she can do what she wants.

Thoughts? AIBU?

I absolutely HATE it. It is so depressing. I try not to judge individual women because that doesn't feel very fair. And I want a world where women are comfortable in their bodies and are free to express their sexuality. And I also get that it's very hard if you're young not to get sucked into feeling your whole value is caught up in your body because girls get that message from every angle.

It just breaks my heart that after so much work by so many feminists, this is considered a good way of living your life and something to aspire to. There is so so much more to life than your body and anyone who has seen their body age or change through disability has had to learn just how unimportant bodies really are in terms of one's worth. I look at Kate Moss's sister who must have spent her whole life being told her body and her looks were everything and she's now essentially a sex worker who sells images of herself. I blame liberal feminism, it turns my stomach to be honest. It has done so much damage. It's also very hard being the plain teenager in the corner of the room, or a teenager who's experienced sexual abuse who is faced with endless images everywhere they turn which seem to communicate that you're only worth something if you're pretty and half-naked.

I think I'm rambling but I could write a much longer rant about all of this. It's really upsetting.

I think it’s good to be proud of your body and to express yourself. But I also think women are sold this lie that sexualising themselves in many ways from looks to selfies to porny sex is somehow liberating and empowering. When really it’s for the benefit of men.

Why must it be an either/or? Its quite possible to be both an "influencer"/posting half naked photos AND be doing something "worthwhile"

God, people are so judgemental. And also so quick to make assumptions.

Of the women I know who are most likely to post the kind of images referred to up thread. One is a marine biologist, one works in healthcare and one works in charity.

It’s all very well to say live and let live

But the more these images take over the internet,

the more my daughters will think that’s what they need to look like, and will feel bad about their natural looks

and the more men will expect women to look like that, and reject those who aren’t dolled up to the nines/wearing skimpy clothing

and the more men will think women are there to look pretty and pout for them, and for their pleasure, and not really people with brains or abilities or rights

If you think these images have no effect on anyone except the girl posing, you’re very naive

I loathe social media.. so never used it ... Mumsnet is my only Vice ... ☺️

Celebface acc on instagram does show the retouching on influencer photos. It's eye opening (like literally, they change their eye shape).

I think it's a shame that many women are only deemed interesting or worth following when they are posing without their clothes.

YABU because women are allowed to wear whatever they like, as much or as little as they want to (or nothing at all for that matter).

YANBU that influencers are generally a moronic bunch. It's not a career choice, it's just a lazy way for self-obsessed people to think they can earn a living without doing any actual work.

I wouldn't worry about the Only Fans thing: unlike influencers, women on Only Fans actually do some work for their living, at least the successful ones do.

@minipie that's how I see it, unfortunately it doesn't exist in a vacuum.

Instagram is for fools. If she wants to be splattered over it in her knickers and thinks she's influencing anyone, more fool her. At least the lads mags used to pay the models - shes giving it away for free. Not very bright.