Bloggers and Brands 3

[CookingUpAStormTonight]

New thread I hope.

I would just add - I'm on a roll here - that I have been surrounded by intense advertising all my life, as have all of us, but I have NEVER felt as want-y and dissatisfied and inclined to spend as when I started following Instagram.

I know I have free will as does every other adult following their feeds, but in some ways I am less interested in the motivations of followers at this point, and more interested in the attitudes of those doing this work, especially for those who also adopt a position of being fairly 'right-on.' It seems like such a conflict to me, I can't imagine how it isn't experienced as one.

By the way - lengthy boring posts explained by the fact that I am meant to be working and keep looking for distractions. I WILL shut up now.

I think they're thought provoking posts @mytether

Some will scoff at the idea that these women are seen as 'friends', as evidenced by some of the replies from the 'just unfollow' crowd, but I agree that none of them started off as accounts that flog stuff. I also hate the 'women should support women' line that is always trotted out, usually as a way to shut debate down, as though women are a homogeneous group.

I have been surrounded by intense advertising all my life, as have all of us, but I have NEVER felt as want-y and dissatisfied and inclined to spend as when I started following Instagram.

I also agree very much with this ^^

Thanks Pavlova! I agree, I think the women supporting women thing is bullshit.

I guess what I am trying to say is that this is extraordinarily effective. And as such, it is extraordinarily problematic.

I can't imagine that someone like stylemesunday doesn't experience this as a dilemma. Not to pick on her, but DMBL40 is fairly straight-up. It's about shopping.

But stylemesunday positions herself as fairly right on. And on the one hand she's promoting body confidence. That's really great. But on the other she's encouraging need. So she is in some ways completely embedded within the very industry she is trying to pull apart. Maybe we can only promote change from within .... but, it's just interesting.

Right ... WOOORRRRK Tether, Work!!

These are all really good points mytether. I don't think too many bloggers perhaps think about this too deeply. I guess it's perfectly possibly to think you are fairly right-on about certain societal issues but not consider the impact of how your social media activity may affect other people. The societal issues created by social media are only just coming to the surface anyway, I suspect. They are all in a bit of denial about it and at the stage of: if you don't like it, unfollow! It's just pretty little squares! Women should support women! If you are going to be unkind then jog on! Blah blah blah...None of them really want to engage in why what they are doing may be problematic (with the exception of MP, who seems very self aware and reflective)

I agree though that some it probably comes down to how you feel about capitalism. For some people, the ability to accumulate stuff is important, for some it is less important. Whenever I go into my local bookshop I am astonished at how many (beautiful and very shelf-friendly) self help books there are are about living a more simple life, enjoying walks, meditation. I feel like society is becoming even more polarised, which is a bit sad really.

I have been surrounded by intense advertising all my life, as have all of us, but I have NEVER felt as want-y and dissatisfied and inclined to spend as when I started following Instagram

Completely agree with this! And when you're a mother it's a double whammy as you "want" for you so you'll be happier and more popular and then "need" for your child else you're a neglectful, lazy parent!

Also, I've lost the recommendation so can't thank the poster but just been looking through Useless.dk and I love her feed. Rather than making me want to buy more it's making me want to empty out my wardrobe to find just the pieces I know I have and love and give up the stuff I've bought on a whim (or recommendation via an "influencer") that I don't love and rarely wear

I posted once very early on on these threads, suggesting I was able to use my judgement and make a reasonable guess aboout what was sponsored or gifted or what was not. The clue often being in the number of other bloggers promoting the same item!
I’ve lurked with interest since and, jeez, have my eyes been opened and my thought provoked.
I’m constantly checking for ‘paid partnership’ and ‘#gift’.
Agree, this constant promotion of consumerism troubles me. Especially when the blogger is trying to promote another message - body confidence and mental health come to mind.
As for ‘women support women’ - I bought into this for a while but realise it’s rubbish. Women support women they perceive to be like them. And yes, as it says up this thread, it can be trotted out to halt healthy debate. It suggests ‘the sisterhood’ must all think and feel the same way about things. If we want a truly equal society, we should be championing good - by male or females.
As someone who’s struggled over the years with anxiety, and as some one on a modest public sector wage, social media can feel over whelming. These ‘pretty’ squares can leave me feeling overwhelmed, that I’m underachieving, somehow secondary to these seemingly flawless and well dressed women, that I ‘need’ certain items to be happy in life, question why I don’t live in a big ‘show home’ etc....
Therefore I’ve started taking a step back. Following less bloggers and spending less time scrolling through my phone. Buying less and buying better and more ethically (based on what I like and not what THEY like). Questioning myself when I start to compare me and my life to theirs. And I feel better for it!

Interesting to see how DLAM and MOD are both at the same hotel- MOD clearly stating it’s an #ad and DLAM just saying “thanks for having us” - it’s the lack of uniformity I find most frustrating.

Blimey was that MOD a freebie? I saw FOD saying they had childcare so I genuinely thought it was a spontaneous night out!! #gullible

As a older person with a limited income I echo what BlueEyedWonder says about Instagram possibly giving feelings of inadequacy. I loved it because it was so visual, and I do like a bit of shopping . I had dipped regularly into a number of blogs having been introduced to the concept by my daughter in 2014. I was always aware of affiliate links and it became increasingly obvious some clothes must be gifted/sponsored/ad but sometimes now it seems they have turned into one long ad. I now look at them less frequently but I do/did follow a couple on Instagram because I do love the visual aspect as I have said. I have unfollowed both within the last few weeks having followed these threads for some time , indeed recently joined. Mumsnet as I wanted to join the discussion.

Another thing that made me draw back was the number of ads in the run up to Christmas including Tesco and Jacobs Creek and particularly one for a charity , you know one of the ones where you buy a goat , chicken etc. That particular one really annoyed me .
This caused me to reflect on other items that had been featured which (savvy as I think I am) I didn't initially identify as promoting the product, particularly but just part of a nice lifestyle - one of the bloggers was very local to me and yes I suppose I would have had/seen myself as not having a particularly different day to day experience. I found myself then with the feeling I had been deceived. And a bit cross with the realisation they are not like you or I but as someone upthread has said , salespeople and you wonder how many young and not so young women are making comparisons with their own lives and finding them inadequate as a result or are indeed aware that all they want them to do is buy stuff. I am thankful my daughter seems to have a healthy attitude to it all and doesn't seem to make comparisons with her own life. Indeed she tells me not to look 😳
I wonder can anyone tell me if in replies to queries on their Instagram pictures for instance asking " where is your coat from" the influencer in reply uses @topshop for example does that have a monetary value? Whether or not the original questioner clicks through. That is something that just occurred to me. Maybe that has been covered but I've missed it,

Hmm, how come Mod's last post is only tagged #ad rather than having the 'paid promotion' geotag?

DLAM is one of the worst for transparency, btw.

coco I also follow Useless.dk she is great and I love her attitude. Hijacstyle is also cool pretty much only shops in charity shops.

imthemary after watching a Netflix documentary ‘the minimalists’ towards the end of last year and being overwhelmed on insta with all the #ads in the run up to Christmas, I started doing the #project333. I totally cleared out most of the crap in my wardrobe and from what was left, selected 33 items that I have been wearing for almost 3 months.
I am looking forward to having a bit more flexibility in my wardrobe but seriously, this process has been so cathartic.
I’ve only bought two new items since Xmas and they were well thought out and considered purchases.
I also started a different insta account to document this and I only follow capsule fashion/sustainable/slow living type people. It’s refreshing and I’m really enjoying Insta again.

@Pavlova, not all brands have access to the Paid Partnership geotag, so if it's not available then #ad was probably the only option available.

DLAM has definitely been providing greater disclosure, but is still inconsistent, which makes me wonder whether it depends on whether the brands insist on it or not. She is from a branding/digital background rather than anything fashion or journalism related. Her blog and IG page are just a marketplace for brands, despite being portrayed as a place for fashion advice for mums - I can't identify any blog posts that aren't sponsored? Also, if you go to her website it lands on the 'shop like a mum'/affiliate link page, rather than the blog, which tells you all you need to know!

brioche Are there any accounts you would recommend? I'm also looking to follow accounts that promote more moderate and sustainable living!

Is it possible for tags to be added after something has been posted on IG? I saw FOD's post last night which I'm pretty sure was not marked as an ad, whereas now it is.

Yes - you can edit posts after you have posted them.

Goodness DLAM just posted a picture with #AD.

That FOD was not posted with #ad when I saw it last night and it's been edited it to add it since. I cannot wrap my head round that fact that this couple know people have got eyes on them and are scrutinizing their disclosures yet they still can't seem to play by the rules. It's in clear breach of ASA guidelines, which for influencers with over 1 million followers between them, a management team and published books is absolutely indefensible. Oh and if your'e reading here.....even the burying of the #ad in a bunch of other hashtags is shady.

Agree with you mytether. The thing is most aren’t simply ‘selling’ clothes anymore. It’s a lifestyle. It spills into beautiful big houses, expensive holidays, etc The consumerism makes me very uncomfortable. And as I’ve previously mentioned I have unfollowed most of them. I’m much less discontent with my lot!

@PavlovaPrincess

Geo tagging ‘paid partnerhip’ is only an option if you’re verified on Ig ie blue ticked. It also implies you were paid to advertise rather than it being a feeebie but the brand have asked for a post in return. I personally like the geotag as it’s clear from the onset and you don’t have to scroll through the post to see the #ad but if you’re not verified on Ig it’s not available.

I thought that was the case @anyalovesrose I just wondered why your latest post was tagged #ad rather than the geotag, as I see that you have previously used the 'paid promotion'.

I agree that the geotag is a lot clearer. I think some people hadn't realised that the stay in the hotel was an ad/gifted.

@PavlovaPrincess

Because it wasn’t a paid partnership ie I wasn’t paid to advertise it it was a complimentary stay. Disney we were paid to advertise it

you don’t have to scroll through the post to see the #ad

How about this for a simple solution then - just put #ad at the very beginning of the post.

ie I wasn’t paid to advertise it it was a complimentary stay

Is that not payment in kind?

I love that all the Insta people who were trying to flog that strange babysitting service don’t actually ever use it. FOD and MOD were pushing it but they always use friends or family to babysit.