Molly Gunn, known for her successful “mumfluencer” brand SelfishMother, has recently shared her regret over posting pictures of her children for financial gain.

What began as a way to connect with other mums and build her business has evolved into a reflection on privacy, family values, and the changing landscape of social media.

From Instagram Posts to Paid Partnerships

Over the years, Molly built a loyal following by sharing glimpses of her family life on Instagram.

As her following grew, she found herself partnering with brands and receiving compensation for posts showcasing her life as a mother.

From luxury holidays in Cornwall to paid campaigns with companies like Sky, Molly’s influencer journey was both lucrative and exciting.

However, as her children grew older, she began questioning the impact of sharing their lives online.

While her kids were initially too young to voice concerns, now, as her sons Rafferty (13) and Fox (11), and daughter Liberty (7), become more aware of their online presence, Molly recognizes the need to protect their privacy.

Privacy and Safety Concerns

With her eldest son entering his teenage years, Molly is more conscious of the potential risks of sharing too much about her children’s lives online.

As she reflects on her past posts, she regrets sharing intimate moments such as breastfeeding photos and those of her kids having tantrums. In hindsight, these moments should have stayed within the family.

Molly has also gone through her personal Instagram account and deleted thousands of photos of her children to safeguard their privacy.

As her children express reluctance to be photographed, she has come to the realization that their personal lives no longer belong to the public eye.

The Decision to Step Away

After a decade of influencing, Molly has made the bold decision to step away from the world of social media influence.

She recently announced that she will be raffling off her @SelfishMother account—complete with its 53k followers—to charity, allowing a new owner to take over and run it under a new name.

For Molly, it marks the end of an era, and a move toward a more private, family-oriented life.

The Changing World of Influencing

The landscape of influencing has changed dramatically since Molly began her journey.

What started as a personal diary of sorts on Instagram has turned into a complex, business-driven space.

Brands now target micro-influencers with as few as 1,000 followers, and platforms like TikTok have further blurred the lines between personal and promotional content.

Molly acknowledges the shift in the industry, where “authenticity” has become a buzzword, and the lines between personal moments and marketable content are increasingly difficult to navigate.

As she moves on from the influencer world, she is excited to focus on her personal blog and share articles, without the pressure to constantly “influence” her audience.

Looking Ahead

As Molly transitions away from her influencer persona, she is ready to embrace a new chapter.

While her journey as a mumfluencer was both rewarding and challenging, she is now focused on maintaining a more private and balanced life for her family.

The decision to step away from influencing marks the beginning of a new phase, where she hopes to continue inspiring others in a more authentic and personal way.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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