Online images migrate amid Instagram children's crusade
Nong Wanmai Chatborirak - the girl adopted by the family of actor Pakorn "Boy" Chatborirak - got axed by Instagram last week, creating quite a sensation on the social network.
She had a lot of fans thanks to her cute photos, but something she did violated the application’s terms of use.
She had an Instagram account – but she’s too young to have one!
A key thrust of the ensuing complaints on Nong Wanmai’s behalf was that most social media-users – around the globe and not just in Thailand – routinely ignore those same terms and conditions. We tend to “agree” to the terms without even reading them first.
It turns out that Nong Mai’s account broke Rule No 1: You have to be at least 13 to own an account. (This is in spite of the fact that her account was registered and is managed by the family.) Instagram’s aim is to protect the best interests of children, of course.
Boy went online to say he had no problem with the decision and respected the rule, but a lot of the little lady’s followers complained that they didn’t get a chance to download and save her pictures. Boy directed the fans to his mother’s account instead – @momomama1234 – where they can get all the same photos and keep following Wanmai to their hearts’ content.
In case anyone started thinking that Instagram was singling out Nong Mai for punishment, it’s begun shutting down the accounts of several other “celebrities in the making” – other stars’ children. Gone thus far are Mayu, daughter of Kanchai Kamnerdploy and May Fuengarom; Patrick (Patpachata), son of Nina and Bank Panyayong; and Panward and Nithi Boonyaratgalin’s son Prod.
They won’t be the last “victims” of emboldened Instagram’s clampdown on violations, but the stars are one by one following Boy’s example. Fans of “the next generation” are being informed where to go to find more images of the kids, whether on their parents’ Instagram access or on the youngsters’ Facebook pages.
Panward says she’ll continue posting pictures of Prod @ppanward on Instagram and “Prodassadin” on Facebook. For pics of adorable Patrick, Nina says, sign up with her hubby on Instagram @bankmj or head to “PatPachata” on Facebook.
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We’re all watching Aum
One person who Instagram is certainly not going to evict is superstar actress Patcharapa “Aum” Chaichau, who recently achieved a regional record by tallying three million followers.
Instagram is also keeping an eye on accounts that suspiciously gain a lot of followers, with businesspeople now artificially jacking up the numbers to promote their stuff, but Aum’s three million is certified authentic.
No other female celebrity in Southeast Asia has that many followers – as you can bet her lawyers will be pointing out the next time they’re negotiating fees for her acting jobs and public appearances.
