Hi, I’m Courtney.\u00a0 In addition to this blog, I run an Instagram account called A to Za’atar<\/a> (give me a follow if you haven’t already).\u00a0 Before we begin, ahem, a gentle reminder that I am NOT an Influencer.<\/a><\/p>\n As part of my remit as a food writer\/food personality, I tend to often share my experiences on social media.\u00a0 Most of the time this is not a specific deliverable, but instead, a nice perk for places I’m invited to.\u00a0 Furthermore, in the current market where I currently live and do most of my writing and reviews (Dubai), for reasons I don’t particularly follow, Instagram is almost the only marker that matters.\u00a0 Followers, likes, even the coveted blue tick – all of this can be bought, and as my engagement is currently in the crapper, I find this especially troubling.\u00a0 Mainly, because a) I low key hate Instagram as a platform<\/a>, and b) I have much better traction on other platforms (and ones I would argue could matter a bit more).\u00a0 Additionally, as I like to ask anyone with paying clients, what is the actual ROI of Instagram?<\/p>\n Anyway, for the most part, my Instastory posts are more or less an accurate, upbeat version of the meals I experience.\u00a0 I try to place dishes in the best possible light so that others can see the hard work of the kitchen.\u00a0 Basically, unless the experience is truly terrible, I don’t mention anything negative or constructive in the space of Instastories.\u00a0 Although, if you follow my stories VERY closely, there are definite and obvious clues I give to let people know a meal hasn’t been particularly good, but I don’t tend to write that out.\u00a0 Unless.\u00a0 Unless they are REALLY, EPICALLY terrible.\u00a0 And, even though I try to align my experiences and dining out with venues that I’m 99% sure that I will enjoy, sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.\u00a0 Even when meals are unforgivable, I do not publish the details, and choose to send feedback directly to the PR firm, or straight to the team (whoever invited me).<\/p>\n In all honesty, I keep dishes I did not enjoy off of my Instagram feed, and as Instastories only exist for 24 hours, it never occurred to me that anyone would take them so seriously.<\/p>\n So, let’s go into two semi-recent situations (and a bonus hotel review experience).\u00a0 In both restaurant instances I was an invited guest of the venue (as in, they specifically asked me to an event, without specific deliverables written):<\/p>\n So, why did I take down these posts?\u00a0 Social media laws are a very (very!) sensitive thing in the UAE, and it didn’t seem like the right time to challenge anyone, especially over something as silly as a less than flattering food review.\u00a0 If I lived anywhere else in the world, it would be a big stretch to consider this.\u00a0 However, at the second venue, with a calm tone and professional approach, not only am I invited back, but I thought the request from the team was genuine, and they truly want to put their best culinary foot forward.<\/p>\n Now, social media issues like these tend to pop up all over.\u00a0 As I was recently talking to a friend about writing this post, she informed me her employer (!!!) had asked her to ‘tone down’ her presence on a particular platform.\u00a0 While I only see a person expressing themselves in a fun and honest manner, her employer sees differently (which I find absolutely appalling on the part of the employer).\u00a0 Similarly, I just stumbled across this post, which proves this is all part of a larger conversation — “a restaurant owner asked me to take down an online review<\/a>.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What would you have done in these situations?\u00a0 Would you have taken down your posts?\u00a0 Has anyone ever asked you to do something similar?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hi, I’m Courtney.\u00a0 In addition to this blog, I run an Instagram account called A to Za’atar (give me a follow if you haven’t already).\u00a0 Before we begin, ahem, a gentle reminder that I am NOT an Influencer. As part of my remit as a food writer\/food personality, I tend to often share my experiences on social media.\u00a0 Most of the time this is not a specific deliverable, but instead, a nice perk for places I’m invited to.\u00a0 Furthermore, in the current market where I currently live and do most of my writing and reviews (Dubai), for reasons I don’t particularly follow, Instagram is almost the only marker that matters.\u00a0 Followers, likes, even the coveted blue tick – all of this can be bought, and as my engagement is currently in the crapper, I find this especially troubling.\u00a0 Mainly, because a) I low key hate Instagram as a platform, and…<\/p>\n\n