Influencers over-editing photos in Social Media/Cyber-bullying accusations

I suppose the way I would see it is, it's a completely unregulated "industry", if you can call it an industry. All you need is, by hook or by crook, a certain amount of Insta/Twitter/FB followers and maybe a bit of a connection in some (almost as unregulated) online media outlet and, hey presto, you are an Influencer!

It's certainly not exclusive to make-up, beauty and cosmetics etc... it's a problem in the fitness industry as well and any kind of fashion - men's, women's, whoever - and I'm sure plenty of others too.

Ireland is a very small place and a coterie of people with a smattering of followers can wield - and guard - a big influence.

EDIT: I also just wanted to mention, as an example of how unregulated the whole thing is, that most influencers as far as I can see (possibly not the very large ones) are far from tax compliant - and that may be what eventually sees the whole influencer community brought into line at some stage.
I recall a twitter thread from a journalist who was looking into some tax details for some reason and noticed that all people receiving any kind of free gifts or services in a working environment were liable to be taxed on the full value of said gifts/services - they are effectively seen as a payment. The Journalist asked the question, 'what does this mean for the influencer community?'

One Influencer type chimed in and said something to the effect of "Oh yes, LOL, we give all of ours away for free as gifts, prizes etc, LOL" - only for the journalist to point out that that was actually immaterial - they were still liable from a taxation point of view.... needless to say, no further comment from Influencer #boss type...

wyrn wrote: »

That's it exactly. I actually gave many of them the benefit of the doubt. They'd start small as a part time interest and then suddenly, it's not a hobby but an industry or an actual paying job.

When you start getting paid for work, it then becomes an industry and they generally fall under the ASAI (advertising standards authority). Sadly the ASAI is playing catch up with these influencers especially when you look at the regulations in the UK and US. Here they issue a statement that such and such said sorry and that's the end of it. There's no real incentive for bloggers to keep the ASAI rules. Even the companies sponsoring don't seem to care.

The other big thing which might still yet erupt is the followers. It looks like many bloggers are buying followers judging by Social Blade stats. You'll see the number of followers going up and down and suddenly you could see +500, +1000 or even +3000 in a single day. It really makes you wonder. Most PR companies tend to work with the bigger bloggers who have a huge following instead of working with bloggers who actually like your product and will sell it.

That's interesting, can I ask what guidelines or rules are in place for the UK and USA in this regard?

All, it is plain to see the regular freebies influencers get. One blogger is always getting her fresh nails and showing pics/dropping names of the salons, then one time PAID for it and she ranted and raved about €70 being SOOOO expensive for nails.

Aviana Zealous Shaver wrote: »

Well after all her fighting talk about tackling bullying it looks like Suzanne started the trend with an article in 2011, referring to people as trannys and having awful faces.

And after being called out on it is now claiming people are trying to ruin her. How about you take some responsibility for the shlte you write instead of pressing the deflect button.

Hand on heart ive never been on social media facebook snapchat etc nor have i ever read/ seen a blog so its never had any effect on me but my daughter used to follow/read a number of them.
But ive noticed that with age the realisation that most of them arent worth her time means that shes dropped/unfollowed most.
I personally cant see the attraction of reading strangers ramblings and i do get the irony.

themakeupfurey wrote: »

I would have to disagree on this Rosie and a lot of other bloggers show off a different image of themselves, I had an encounter with rosie before and she was very rude and indirect bullying happened by herself so she is quite the hypocrite.

How did she bully you?

There's a part of me that feels very sorry for Joanne; not because she was called out for her nonsense, but because I have suffered from an eating disorder, in varying degrees of severity, for 20 years, and recognise a lot of my own practices and tendencies in her. Very unhealthy practices.

I would regularly contact friends on fb when I was in college to delete certain photos. I even asked a nightclub to take a photo down that they took of my friends and I. I loved my own pictures of myself; I never edited them in any way but I could pose nicely and choose my favourites. I still am completely obsessive over photos of me. I missed out on holidays recently cos I was scared to renew my passport photo in case I didn't look pretty enough. The security photo for my swipe in work made me sick with anxiety beforehand. And yet, I still don't think I am anywhere near as hard on myself as Joanne is, and I have never altered anything. (That would make me feel worse tbh, looking at a "better version" of the real me.)

I do all of these things on a background of having a highly restrictive eating disorder since I was 13. I have insight that it is very unhealthy. Joanne has a disordered relationship with her body and food too, to say the very least. Nobody who is "body positive" acts like I do, or like Joanne does.

The problem for Joanne and other susceptible women is that we have 24/7 access to a camera. 10 or 15 years ago, we took photos at events or a night out, when we looked our best. They were less high res and didn't show up every tiny blemish. I genuinely think people need to just STOP TAKING SO MANY PHOTOS of themselves. Myself included. It is a recipe for utter misery.

Her worst crime in my book was the implication that Paul emotionally abused her. She has spoken previously about another long term boyfriend who treated her badly. The post was written just obtusely enough not to pin anything on Paul for definite. She can't seem to help herself when it comes to lashing out like this. She is just making one poor decision after another.

Her social media image is purely a fantastical construct. If she let it go, she might actually find herself to be far more fulfilled.

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Joanne learned that the hard way last weekend(if she has learned anything at all...)

CRIPES. You all need to read Paul's latest post before he deletes it!

blairbear wrote: »

CRIPES. You all need to read Paul's latest post before he deletes it!

Any chance of a screenshot?

Also excellent previous post.

blairbear wrote: »

CRIPES. You all need to read Paul's latest post before he deletes it!

Paul who?

blairbear wrote: »

It's very, very long. Would be 5 or 6 screenshots. Bodybycontrol on instagram.

And thank you!

Fairplay to him for standing up for himself, but no doubt he'll face a massive backlash. Probably get called a pig, monster etc

Thanks for the clarification!

He came across very well in that post, fair play to him!

c.p.w.g.w wrote: »

Fairplay to him for standing up for himself, but no doubt he'll face a massive backlash. Probably get called a pig, monster etc

Why would there be a backlash against him??

He ends his post with:
"I cannot speak to the motives of the other person but I believe this behaviour was an attempt to bully and intimidate me as punishment for the relationship not working out.
.
I would love nothing more than to draw a line in the sand and have nothing more to do with any of this from this point onwards.
.
Thanks
.
Paul x"