Instagram and ESA

hazelandrews
hazelandrews Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Benefits and income
Hi
I was contacted by a compliance officer yesterday regarding my Instagram account and they wanted to know if I’d received any payments or sponsorships,They had an allegation apparently. I currently claim ESA contribution limited work group. 
I have never had payment from anyone or received free gifts, I have receipts for everything I have purchased and posted. 
The gentleman on the phone stated he needed to take a statement so that he could put the matter to bed so to speak as he was assured by the information I gave him. 
I just want some advice on what to do in the future regarding posts.
I enjoy Instagram and I get a lot of help from others it’s the only thing keeping me going at the moment. I would really hate to stop something I enjoy as my life is limited enough already. 

Thanks in advance 

Comments

  • hazelandrews
    hazelandrews Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Thank you 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    I see no reason to stop using instagram. Someone must have reported you for something which was what the allegation was about, i'm assuming.

    Claiming benefits doesn't mean you can't and shouldn't have a life.
  • 2oldcodgers
    2oldcodgers Posts: 739 Connected
    poppy123456 said:

    Claiming benefits doesn't mean you can't and shouldn't have a life.
    It shouldn't but because of claiming benefits it does leave you wide open to abuse from others for whatever reason. Not right, but it goes with the territory.
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    Hello @hazelandrews

    Instagram actually has strict guidelines for when you do work with brands or are gifted an item or items. For example you are supposed to use hashtags like #ad or #sponsered. Sometimes even tag the post as a partnership. Instagram would have flagged posts if they thought you went against their guidelines. 

    As someone who blogs part time, I always put something in the caption or blog post. For example I could say "I popped into Boots today and tried this foundation that has gone viral" or " this was only "insert amount" at "insert shop", can't believe I got such a bargain".

    I agree with Poppy's comment, just because you claim doesn't mean you can't have a life or even have an active social media portfolio. 

    If you are looking to go into social media work, it may be good practice to pop comments like that up in captions and it's good you are keep receipts. Awful that you have to because someone stuck their nose in and reported you, but good for you.

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