Social media (bath) bombing
Lush, producer of overpriced and overhyped cosmetics and personal care products, has announced that it will deactivate some of its social media accounts, until platforms take steps to provide a safer environment for users. The platforms of concern are Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. (fist) (geddit?)
The company appears to consider Twitter and YouTube as already offering a safe environment. So, mental health doesn't appear to be their priority.
To be honest, it's not really clear what their problem is. Mention is made in the BBC's report of
; serious effects
of social mediabeing put at risk when using social media
; and hopes that platforms will introduce
.best practice guidelines
and that international regulation will be passed into law
The closest to an explanation comes from Jack Constantine:
"As an inventor of bath bombs, I pour all my efforts into creating products that help people switch off, relax and pay attention to their wellbeing," said Jack Constantine, chief digital officer and product inventor at Lush. "Social media platforms have become the antithesis of this aim, with algorithms designed to keep people scrolling and stop them from switching off and relaxing."
So, there you have it, folks. Lush is concerned that all the time spent on social media is time not spent in the bath. So you need to get off FaceChatInstaTok and go use some Lush goodies, for safety's sake: yours, personal; and theirs, financial.
How long will it take other companies to follow Lush's visionary lead in driving sales, by abandoning social media? (thinking)
It was Mo Constantine who invented the bath bomb. I'm assuming that Jack Constantine uses the family recipe. In which case, he doesn't invent them, so much as create new variants on the theme.