Today a few people sent me links to articles about Clemmie aka Mother of Daughters, a very popular Instagrammer. It seems like the ugly side of social media had led to her deleting her Instagram account. Mum of four, author and midwife, Clemmie Hooper has shared her ups and downs of family life through the squares of Instagram for years. I only came across her earlier on this year (sorry, I was living in a bubble, I know) but I was instantly in love with her honest portrayal of parenting.
I even followed her husband’s account. I may not have four children or have all of the same experiences as Clemmie and her husband. Her images reflect a very white middle-class way of life that my black, working-class family can’t begin to emulate. That didn’t stop my ability to see the truth in her posts. I could still relate to her parenting journey. Parenting is universal right?
From reading the various news articles, it seems that critics of Mother of Daughters are reported to have had taken issue with the use of children in posts where products or services were being advertised. She’s been accused of exploiting her children in order to sell products.
Personally, I take offence to that claim.
Clemmy is in a very privileged position in that she’s able to make an income out of sharing her life online. I wonder how much of this criticism is purely a case of the green-eyed monster? Hundreds of thousands of people follow @motherofdaughters on Instagram, presumably because they enjoy the images of family life she puts out there, which would include photos of her children.
I include photos of my kids on my social media feeds and here, on this blog too. As is my right as their mother. No, I don’t feel I’m exploiting them by doing this. I don’t think Clemmy is exploiting her children by including them in posts she’s been paid to promote, particularly if she has her children featured the rest of her feed already. Would it not be less organic and quite unnatural if they were never included in sponsored content if they were in all other photos?
Also, people have been taking photos of children forever. Do we expect to get consent from the babies in a GAP ad or the children on set in any of the films or soaps you watch?
This whole trend of ‘community policing’ or more so, community mob mentality needs to stop. These ‘insta-families are real, living breathing human beings with feelings. Hanging them out to dry and making scathing assumptions on their character and intentions is such a low blow. For me, it feels like trolling on a grander scale.
As much as I’d love the opportunity to travel the world and have epic brand collaborations, on days like this, I’m somewhat thankful that I’m a very small, micro influencer. It means I’m kept away from the skepticism, back talk and attacks the larger Instagrammers and bloggers seem to unwittingly invite.
Social media has changed the shape of society so much. How we communicate and what we share is so different for this generation.
I’d love to hear your own opinions on social media. Is there an ugly side of social media? Should we expect this kind of hating and just brush it off or is there something to it? Do you feel that parents shouldn’t share photos of their children on social media? or perhaps, we only take photos of them where there are no brand collaborations involved? Thoughts.
I like that phrase ‘community mob mentality’. I’ll be honest, I do think some bloggers go too far in use of their kids. i do it, but try not to go overboard. That said, there’s nothing like a social media hue and cry. I hate seeing it and some people really do need to grow up. Thought provoking post.
Thanks John, I’m glad you found it thought provoking! As a fellow parent, where would you say the line should be drawn between having your kids online and going too far?
I see this a lot especially with Mum bloggers, I think people feel so entitled and still don’t understand how social media has changed. In order to create the content they are clicking like on they need to get paid. I think it is exhausting trying to explain how it all works. I don’t follow the blogger you mentioned but For me if I felt like a picture was not to my liking the most I’ll do is rant to my Mum about it and simply keep scrolling I guess people will always dislike certain things so you just have to keep doing you
I really liked what you said about just scrolling past. This is very true, why don’t more people do just that!?