Throughout this course we have become very familiar with the term self-branding and the various ways that we are encouraged to use social media to succeed. Instagram has become one of the most well-known platforms for self-branding and life streaming. Instagram has introduced an entirely new economic market in which people can gain capital by sharing photos and promoting brands through their social media.
How To Quickly Get Popular on Instagram
This article was written for users that want to market themselves on Instagram. It explains the various steps a person must take if they want to get popular on this social media platform. The article explains to readers how to obtain the most followers and the ways that they should get noticed and connect with other users. Today there are websites in which people can actually purchase followers to make their page look more popular than it may actually be.
If a business has an Instagram page and they purchased followers or likes, do you feel that this constitutes as false advertising/deception? Should we be allowed to purchase followers?
Hey Claire! The idea of whether or not purchasing Instagram followers is ethical is an idea I pondered earlier in the term. Definitely a great question to put on the table for Communications scholars- and although we're at the end of the term. I'm still not sure whether it's ethical or not. I don't see a problem with it in the grand scheme of things- it's just sad more than anything. But to answer your question specifically- I would say that it is indeed a form of false advertising. You could compare it to photoshopping on the front of magazines, companies are advertising a product, image or anything that reflects an idea/image that is not real. It was constructed by technology. Fake IG followers is basically the same thing- it appears that you have a large following # when in reality it's a bunch of technologically constructed robots who have been created to depict that image/idea of a person or company being "popular/well known/liked" etc.
ReplyDeleteThere is a fine line between false advertising and misrepresentation that is always closely towed in mass media. Although purchasing follows may seem unethical I dont see anything wrong with the legalities of it simple in the form of followers. However if claims based on their number of followers were made, thats when I think the issue of false advertising comes into play. Personally I believe social media should be used as a platform to communicate to their target audience and if they buy followers then they technically arent reaching the people the account should really be intended for.
ReplyDeleteI do not think this is false advertising, possibly a bit of deception. I do not think it affects anyone negatively other than large companies who are trying to use social media to market their products. As a consumer it does not affect me and I find it kind of ironic that companies who try to exploit free labor and free advertising are instead getting manipulated by users. In a way I find it quite strategic and if the companies do not do their research on a person and their followers before paying them to advertise products it is their own fault. We as prosumers must take control of the exploitation of our free labour and although this is partially dishonest, it is one way to become a capitalist within a capitalist social media realm. Instagram is about building a self-brand and if someone wants to pay for popularity or seemingly popularity it will only matter to those who either are attempting to exploit it for advertising, or users of Instagram who care about popularity and "fame". "You cannot lead without followers" is a common expression, and in this case the person with fake followers will not have any impact in terms of making meaning on social media.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone that it is deceptive because as advertising shifts to online platforms, followers become an important way for us as consumers to decide whether we think a product is worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteConsider the many companies that offer incentives for you to like their Facebook pages. For example, just a few weeks ago these people in the FNCC concourse gave me a free coffee... then followed it up with, "please like our page as a 'thank you.'" Everyone wants likes and activity on their feeds to look impressive, so I think it is deceptive of companies to buy followers as a means of promotion.