Bloggers and social media influencers have always dominated our Facebook and Instagram feeds, letting us the audience look in through the key hole to their perfect lives.
Well, one Instagram account has delved even further, and has created quite a stir. The Instagram account called “bloggersunveiled” has been calling out bloggers since the start of January this year. The account started off noting the extreme photo shops and glow ups of some of Ireland’s most beloved influencers, such as SOSU creator, Suzanne Jackson.
The account was set up to show the wrong doings of influencers, which led to posts of disregarding ASAI (Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland) guidelines, promoting brands they did not like themselves and the latest controversy of bloggers not wearing seatbelts correctly while campaigning RSA Irelands seatbelt safety campaign. The page shared videos and pictures of bloggers with seatbelts under their arms and driving while snapping. It has made it a constant reminder to RSA Ireland as they are tagged in each post.
The RSA launched the campaign in February 2017, which focused on the misuse of seatbelts by woman. This began after a study of 300 woman between the ages of 17 to 34 year olds was carried out by Behaviours and Attitudes in 2016. The study revealed 28% admitted to misusing a seatbelt by wearing it under their arm, rising to 35% among younger woman. Of those interviewed, 53% said their friends wore the seatbelt under the arm. The main reasons cited for wearing the seatbelt under the arm were to relieve neck tension (49%) and for general discomfort (47%). Some even wore it under arm to avoid beauty malfunctions, 9% said it was to protect their tan and 7% said it was to protect their clothing.
The page even managed to get its hands on an email from the Andrea Roche Agency reminding them of their duties and guidelines while working with the RSA seatbelt safety campaign. Part of the email read: “As a friendly reminder please make that any time you are in a car, filming or otherwise that you are following the rules set forward by the RSA including, wearing a seatbelt correctly, over the shoulder, never under, not using a phone/snapping and driving, and of course never drinking and driving of course.”
The page has racked up one-hundred and thirty-two-thousand followers with two-hundred and five posts shaming social media influencers. It has highlighted the issues surrounding brand endorsement and campaigning.
The RSA has yet to make a comment on the issue.