Haha! i was trying to be nice
I wonder what they do with all these clothes they are #gifted i wonder if they are #loaned?
It's not like a Charity would even want them... it's really quite sad isn't it. It's so immoral. Id love them to grow a social conscience.
A lot of the PR products vloggers feature and wear are gifted, loaned, or discounted. For instance, Victoria's Bentley is on loan for the Summer. Lydia's dress, likely on loan or deeply discounted.
How can you tell if it's a PR product or purchase?
Generally, PR agencies send out press products in the same wave to the same influencers in a specific category for launches, new news, etc. So, if you see an influenza, like Lydia or Ali, posting about a product with no PR or #Ad mention, then search the hashtag for that brand on the same social platform.
You'll find a) someone who has properly disclosed that it's a PR product or b) a bunch of folks posting about the same product at the same time, and can use that information to confirm that a press product was not disclosed in their content.
Dim Lydia is forever butthurt about disclosing her press products
Dim Lydia is forever butthurt that she has to be responsible in regards to her job in that way. However, the truth of the matter is that a lot of impressionable young girls/teens follow her. And when they see her posting a new Bottega pouch bag (gifted, nonetheless), they're likely getting into debt to afford it, whilst Lydiot didn't pay for it either.
It's
highly deceptive given the amount of product she pushes on a regular basis. If she's going to be in the industry, where her job is to push/recommend products, she has to adhere to the regulations (i.e., just like any other business person must do). Cranking out content doesn't make you a boss! Doing your job correctly, with ethics, ingenuity, and continuity does!
Her blatant lies, duplicity, ignorance, and passive-aggressive attitude are what turned me off (along with many others) to her months ago. It's a shame because she could do (and be) so much better than she is.
How to report Lydia and other Influenza's that don't disclose their brand relationships
Since she and Ali would rather block and delete in lieu of doing their job honestly, report an infraction. This is what she is supposed to do (according to the ASA):
"If you have not purchased a product or service yourself but received it free, make this clear." They even created a fool-proof guide for Influencer Dummies:
https://www.asa.org.uk/resource/influencers-guide.html
If she doesn't,
file a formal influencer complaint online: https://www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint.html
Influencers must disclose brand relationships in their IG Stories too, here's why
Instagram Stories is set to generate over $2 billion in revenue for Facebook this year alone. Brands are pushing big bucks toward sponsoring influencer stories as well. If they're getting paid to post an ad in their stories, they must disclose that as well. If they don't, report it.