To think many are jealous of social media influencers

[pebimo6]

There's a couple I follow on Instagram and it's obvious some of the things they show are ads and that's fine. When I watch itv it's free because there are ads, that's the world. You either pay for a service or it finds another way to make you pay.

But has anyone else notice how instamums attract so much negativity? It seems to be nothing more than jealously! They're not harming anyone and no one is forced to follow

It puts me off a brand when suddenly you see it being promoted everywhere on Instagram. Like the aforementioned Lick paint. It's being heavily promoted by influencers at the moment and that makes me suspicious that the product can't stand up on its own merits.

Most of them are either exploiting others by grifting free stuff off them or shilling for other brands. That is how social media "influencing" works. Pretty soulless lifestyle if you ask me.

Of course we live in a world where you can't criticise anyone anymore because they pretend that they are somehow vulnerable even though they chose to live an entirely public lifestyle by choice.

@Clymene

I find it very disturbing that people monetise their children

Same. There is a real issue with consent..and then many say their children want to be in videos but the whole reason consent in legal scenarios doesn't allow children to be entirely responsible is they cannot fully comprehend the impacts of decisions. How can an 8 year old properly assess how they will feel at 35 having lived a life through the lens having to portray perfection

There will be many books and articles written in 20+ years time about what it was like to grow up as a child whose parents exploited their likeness and childhood experiences for cash.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

It puts me off a brand when suddenly you see it being promoted everywhere on Instagram. Like the aforementioned Lick paint. It's being heavily promoted by influencers at the moment and that makes me suspicious that the product can't stand up on its own merits.

Does it make you feel the same about M& S when they use Dawn French in their ads? Or David Gandy advertising after shave? It's just a different method of spending your advertising budget. People shop differently these days. Until SM goes away entirely, it's here to stay too. "Youth" don't watch TV with adverts nor buy magazines. (I class myself at, ahem, 43, as youth!!!)

Their entire job is based on making people jealous. If nobody saw the posts and started envying their lifestyle then they would be failing in their profession, they are paid to invoke these emotions

I think the whole thing is unethical as we're blurring real life and idealistic advertising

Yes, I understand the concept of advertising is. But M&S isn't a new brand. I know exactly what M&S is. So it doesn't make a difference to me who they have in their latest campaign. Lick is a new brand and when all I'm hearing about a new brand is positive reviews from people who've been paid to make them, it doesn't make me want to rush out and try the product.

Does it make you feel the same about M& S when they use Dawn French in their ads? Or David Gandy advertising after shave?
It's just a different method of spending your advertising budget. People shop differently these days.

Some people will be turned off by certain celebs or models

What's quite insidious but clever about insta marketing is the whole X is my friend & it's a recommendation etc

Hang on….this post feels very familiar. Are you an influencer OP? There were a whole load of threads recently defending influencers & they all seemed to have been started by the same person.

@LittleGwyneth

Honestly if you can make a decent whack without having to work for someone else, and you enjoy it, why wouldn't you? The only downside of people aspiring to be influencers is that it's unlikely that they'll achieve their dream. But that's also true of acting, singing, modelling, painting, dancing and lots of other things.

THIS ^

I say good luck to ANYone who can earn a living, and as you say Gwyneth, work for themselves. Working for someone else is soul destroying for many people, and being self employed is the dream for many. Being self employed and earning shitloads and making a good career out of it, is the ultimate goal for many.

I have a very close relative who has a high profile and strong/big following on social media, and they recently got to a point where they are now earning enough to actually give up their day job.

@pebimo6

I admire ANYone who can make a career out of what they love and enjoy, and whilst I don't think many people are actually jealous of social media influencers and the like, I do think many are spiteful and condescending and mean about them, and look down their nose at them.

The successful social media folk don't give a shit though; they are living the dream, earning good money, and will probably be able to retire at 45. Whilst their haters will continue to work for the man (9 to 5, Monday to Friday, often struggling to make ends meet,) and will probably be doing it til they're 70.

Many influencers look the same - eyebrows, long hair, pink eyeshadow and full lips (often artificial) and contouring make up, belly tops, false eyelashes and pointy nails…..

They look lovely but never would you be able to pick them out in a crowd 😂

someone close to me is an "influencer" and i can tell you their lives do not match the pictures! it just makes everyone else feel bad about themselves and think their lives are shit in comparison. Hate the whole thing. I don't do any of the social media just whatsapp and messenger to keep intouch with friends overseas.. eventually all this fake ass shit will be frowned upon as it has damaged the mental health of our kids so much and we are only just awakening to the horror we have created!

But good luck to them if they make cash!

I can't think of anything worse than plastering my whole life on the internet - I pity them! What an awful way to live.

Jealous of what though? That they get sent free tat? I don’t need tat in my life.

Comparison is the thief of joy. I hate how much young people get suckered into this stuff. Being adolescent is tough enough...

It would be hard to feel jealous of someone who adds no benefit to life but exploits the foolish.

Embarrassing and distasteful, yes. To be envied, definitely not.

There are a few I watch because I think they are hilarious in their ridiculousness. They only get about 300 likes per post but they think they are wonderful and everything is so cringeworthy that I just can’t help myself. It’s just a guilty pleasure! I can afford all the stuff so it’s not jealousy or about that; it’s more just a fascination with how people can be so self-interested and unaware. Neither of them are attractive either which annoys me more for some reason as they are pouting into the cameras thinking they are worth looking at/listening to! 😆

They're not attractive do they're not worth listening to?? Christ.

It's not just insta that's toxic, eh?

I will never be jealous of anyone who pimps out their children on social media for likes and sponsorships. It is a form of abuse and it sickens me. No amount of money would make me share my child's images and whereabouts online.

@MeredithGreyishblue

That’s not what I said! I just think the narcissism level is usually associated with more attractive people. Maybe because of actors etc

And this is why I don’t use Facebook. Or Instagram, tick-tock, snap chat or any other type of social media.

There’s a stench of Daily Fail about this post

@MeredithGreyishblue

They're not attractive do they're not worth listening to?? Christ.

It's not just insta that's toxic, eh?

This... ^

@Justheretoaskaquestion91

There are a few I watch because I think they are hilarious in their ridiculousness. They only get about 300 likes per post but they think they are wonderful and everything is so cringeworthy that I just can’t help myself. It’s just a guilty pleasure! I can afford all the stuff so it’s not jealousy or about that; it’s more just a fascination with how people can be so self-interested and unaware. Neither of them are attractive either which annoys me more for some reason as they are pouting into the cameras thinking they are worth looking at/listening to! 😆

Now THAT^ sounds like jealousy. Your words about these influencers are mocking and loathsome, and quite spiteful, yet you still watch them. You sound rather unpleasant.