To think parenting "content" online has a lot to answer for

[Namechangedforthiscomment]

I know. I know. Just don't be on social media!

But I've seen three threads today where people have been responding to parenting content online. One anti sunscreen which I think is quite a big influencer. One about online anti- induction discourse (not here to get into the pros and cons of induction) and one poster who has been put off motherhood by content creators complaining about it so much.

Am I right in thinking it's a bit toxic? People follow someone for fashion/ fame etc and then that influencer is suddenly pivoting to motherhood content. Suddenly they are selling a load of crap to vulnerable post partum mums or making them feel bad because they can't follow some random routine their favourite influencer has for their baby. Or, even worse, they are actually pedalling misinformation! Just because you happen to have a child doesn't make you an expert.

I completely agree, when I think back to those dark post partum days I was so so vulnerable to the absolute bullshit coming off social media. I lost what little sleep I was able to get as there was so much conflicting information coming my way and I didn’t clock that it was all monetised. They made money from me watching their content, there was no responsibility to provide accurate information. When I was a little further down the line (12 months or so) this clicked and I got so angry.

To be fair though, this toxicity comes from people everywhere - and I’ve found it far easier to scroll past someone peddling shit information online, than to get out of a situation ‘well-meaning’ random member of the public telling me what a shit job I was doing at 2 weeks, or a midwife giving me incorrect information around breastfeeding, or family members impressing on me their bizarre parenting habits 😂 I’ve definitely found some influencers who’ve built really solid, supportive online communities - as well as unfortunately the awful ones. But they exist offline as well.

Yes I think it's the kind of stuff that if you saw normally you'd know it was just rubbish. However post partum you can't always see the wood from the trees.

I follow A Health Visitor one but she's an actual professional not some random from Made in Chelsea etc.

@Namechangedforthiscomment

Odd mix of issues here. Anti-sunscreen - that's just MAHA nonsense.

People talking negatively about induction of labour - not sure I'd put that into the same category. Most people's negativity about IOL is the result of their own/their friend's terrible experiences with it, and a belief that induction rates are too high, which isn't an unreasonable stance given recent increases.

Ah -on the thread I think it was more content creators who are anti induction/ intervention in any circumstances. Which made me think about what a lot of dangerous influence non accountable "gurus" could have on vulnerable people.

These are literally just examples I read on threads today on mumsnet.

(I'm no fan of inductions having experienced one!)

I've worked on the crunchier side of the birth world for 30 years and have never met a single person who is 'anti induction/intervention in any circumstances', and I've met people who are supporters of free birth and other very fringe practices. I feel the same way about comments like this as I do about people who tell stories about breastfeeding advocates trying to force women who've had double mastectomies to breastfeed, or who think a baby is better off not fed at all if they aren't being breastfed. Nobody in the birth world believes that intervention and induction are never necessary or life saving. I don't think it's helpful to assume that they're people who do believe this.

Not more than anything else. This is why critical thinking is so important now

Just because you happen to have a child doesn't make you an expert.

This is true of all the bullshit advice people give new parents. Anyone responsible enough to raise a child should know they shouldn't be getting their information on tiktok. People seriously need to start taking more responsibility for learning what is best for a child form reputable sources and then applying that knowledge to raise their children well.

Like the recent baby food pouches scandal where people are shovelling three times the recommended amount of sugar into their babies mouths on a daily basis because "no one told them it was bad!" I honestly despair at the lack of accountability people take for their parenting choices these days.

@SugarSoiree

There's some great content on TikTok, including from NHS midwives, doctors and charities and organisations like The Lullaby Trust.