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Baba's Field Notes

forgotten moments from parenthood by jonathan jui

sponsored posts

The End of Sponsored Posts

July 16, 2017

Dear Baobao,

I’ve reached a crossroads with all these letters and cartoons. I’m at a point where I have enough followers on my Instagram account that I’m being approached by companies to do a sponsored post, which usually entails a cartoon and a picture of you doing some funny. And with that, it has reopened an old debate about publicizing my journey through parenthood with you as a feature character.

At this point, you’re obviously not old enough to understand all the dynamics or make a decision about whether you want this exposure. So what I concluded last time was I thought you wouldn’t mind since you are such a happy boy who enjoys making people laugh and smile. I still believe that is true, which is why I have carried on documenting everything in the public realm, but sponsored posts offer a new layer of consideration.

I’ve never really thought about commercializing any part of this personal project and sponsored posts would be a step in that direction. It’s always nice to get free stuff in exchange for something I would have done anyway (draw cartoons and take pictures of you). But when I was writing an email to one of the companies looking for a sponsored post, the transactional nature made me feel like I was pimping out your cuteness and that is something I definitely am not okay with. It’s one thing to share naturally occurring memories and quite another to artificially create them. Thus, I’ve decided I won’t do any more sponsored posts that involve you.

In any case, it’s kind of crazy this is even a problem to be discussed at all – never would’ve thought you’d have such an appeal beyond your mother and myself. Then again, it is YOU we’re talking about, you shining star you :D

Love,
Baba

Filed Under: Letters - Months 13-18, Letters to Baobao Tagged With: moral dilemma, oversharing parent, reflection, sharenting, social media, sponsored posts

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My name is Jonathan Jui, and I'm a first-time working dad documenting my experiences of parenthood through cartoons and letters.

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