Regulation of the influencer sector: “Don’t break our model”, ask MPs 150 social media stars in a podium

A bill to regulate their activity will be examined next week. “Don’t break our model” because of “minority excesses”launched Sunday, March 26 to the deputies 150 influencers, including stars like Squeezie, Cyprien or Seb la Frite. “We hear about ‘influencers’, ‘fighting’ against us. We think it’s a mistake. That a minority has become a generality”plead the influencers in a column published in the Sunday newspaper.

Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, presented on Friday a battery of measures to regulate a sector so far largely without constraints. In particular, he wants to submit the 150,000 French influencers, who often live from promoting products, “to the same rules” advertising than traditional media.

“Not traveling billboards”

The small world of Instagram, YouTube and TikTok stars is worried about being equated with those who are accused of misleading consumers. “Your only compass must be the protection of consumers from the abuses of a minority who thinks everything is allowed and the preservation of our activities and the jobs we create. Do not break the virtuous model that we are building in the four corners of France with and for the French. Understand it, protect it, make it grow”ask the influencers. “Scams, counterfeits, dubious business practices, some have made people believe in recent months that they are representative of our sector when they only represent a minority. It is their abuses that we first wish to denounce”they insist.

“We are certainly not perfect. We have made mistakes. But our priority is and will always be the protection of consumers, of our communities. We are in favor of a framework for the sector”assure the signatories, exclaiming: “We are not walking billboards.”