To think there are way too many engagement farming threads on MN nowadays? s?

MrMurphysComeuppance · 2026-10-16T14:37:15+00:00

Do you know what an engagement farming thread is, and what the classic signs are to spot one? If not then you are probably being taken in on a daily basis on this forum by 'posters' who are not genuine about problems and dilemmas that are not real. The site is absolutely awash with them. It's been a big issue for the last year or so and it really is getting ridiculous now. These 'posters' often start threads that can run for days and days with pages of responses, but after the initial OP and maybe one or two quick follow up posts, the 'OP' is nowhere to be seen. And they are always (or almost always) a first time poster/brand new user name. Even if they have posted on one or two other threads that day (very rare and only done occasionally to make the account look more genuine) they never have a proper posting history. There is a very good reason for this, which I can explain if anyone is interested. Now I've been here a really long time and I name change often these days, for privacy reasons, but there is NO WAY I name change for every single thread I start and NO WAY I use a new name each and every time for my one thread only, without ever engaging on anyone ^else's^ threads using that same user name. Who on earth has time for that? That's just not normal forum behaviour. And yet that is what is happening on here, multiple times a day, across several accounts that only exist to generate fake threads and therefore traffic. I can spot them a mile off now, they are so formulaic and predictable, but it really irritates me that so many posters are so gullible and get caught up in these long debates, giving their time and advice where is no genuine OP at the heart of it. You are being taken for suckers. I can give you a detailed breakdown of what to look for in a probable engagement farming thread (or rage bait as they are often called, although they are often not always designed to get people in a rage, often just to spark long conversations and polarise opinion on a subject.) MN is full of actual, intelligent human beings who are more than capable of starting interesting conversations by themselves. Or at least it ^used^ to be. Do we really need people/bots creating accounts then name changing several times a day to churn out fake thread after fake thread just to keep the clicks coming? It has massively dumbed down the site and no-one seems to care. Certainly the people who run the site don't seem to care, and why would they, when key strokes and clicks mean ££££?

Original poster

MrMurphysComeuppance · Today 17:59

SecretsAndLies77 · Today 16:12

But the kind of "dilemma" thread you use as an example is a very commonplace life conflict....I just don't see how you could know for sure it's not real. It seems totally possible to be real, to me.

As for the OP not engaging with responses, well it can be impossible to keep up if you have a lot of responses, or sometimes you may not like the responses (people do awful pile ons!) and may just prefer to read quietly or even withdraw from the thread altogether, if you feel it's really against you.

None of that demonstrates the thread is not authentic....

It's not the dilemmas themselves that are unbelievable, although they do seem to keep hammering certain popular themes to death and push the boundaries of believability sometimes. It's the way the posts are written in a very specific and hackneyed style that becomes easy to spot after a while. Certain turns of phrase used again and again. The way the posts are paragraphed. Even the user names tend to follow a predictable pattern.

And as I've said, always a brand new user name and after the first one or two posts on their own thread, no engagement with any of the responses whatsoever. And then you never, ever see that user name used again.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrMurphysComeuppance · Today 17:52

OutOfTheOtherSide · 16/10/2026 21:41

They don't admit it but they also don't deny it. As I said, it's common practice. I think a lot of people realise that most of the threads, (including this one!), are not written by genuine posters.

I've said this before but I do think they should have some sort of badge on the mumsnet generated threads. Whilst I assume that most people with a brain realise they are written by mumsnet, it is clear that many of the posters, (whether real or fake), are not the sharpest tools in the box. It is all a bit icky that they are deliberately posting clickbait threads for their own profits without being open about it. Not sure I'd sleep at night if I worked for them!

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You think I am not a genuine poster? Why on earth?

OP posts:

Original poster

MrMurphysComeuppance · Today 17:51

WhatNoRaisins · Today 07:27

When I was more naive I'd sometimes report these sorts of threads as wind up and go trolls.

Another problem with these fake threads being so prolific is that it makes us more snarky. So many of us have taken time to reply thoughtfully to things that turned out to be made up that we're more cynical of what we read. It's making it a worse place for posters with real problems.

Edited

Yes, exactly.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrMurphysComeuppance · Today 17:50

MrMurphysComeuppance · 16/10/2026 19:57

There was one started this afternoon, exactly fits the profile. Very divisive subject matter, three posts, the OP followed by two very short follow up posts 'to clarify' or 'for context' ... So straight away, seeing that I did an advanced search.

All three posts made in quick succession mid afternoon then nothing since, in spite of the thread being a long one now, with lots of robust discussion you'd have thought the OP would have wanted to join in with, given she cared enough to start a thread on the subject in the first place.

OP has a brand new user name in spite of there being absolutely no reason to need to name change for that thread, as it doesn't relate to her personally or anyone she knows. It's a very general AIBU so the need to name change is a bit of a mystery. No posts on anyone else's threads either.

It remains to be seen if the OP comes back but my money is on NO.

And as I predicted, that particular thread is now at 10 pages and still going strong with no word from the OP since her first three posts within 15 minutes on Friday.

OP posts:

Rosegla55es · Today 17:36

MN no longer zaps really unpleasant threads that are quite damaging. Funny that.They are often the longest and bring them the most revenue.

FreshInk · Today 17:16

DorsetKnobBiscuit · Today 16:45

It's the way the OP is phrased. Strident opinon presented as asking a question. E.g. I live in Dubai and won't be coming back as the UK is a shit hole. AIBU? A true thread would probably start "I live in Dubai now and don't miss the UK. Might I regret staying here? Any advice welcome"

Then the OP will come back once. Often with a passive aggressive response e.g. How can you advise me, you live in a Blackpool council house. Just that one response.

If they come back again it's often in a different writing style, full of three letter acronyms, has an emoji and/or no punctuation at all.

There are a dozen little signs that just make you think FFS.

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I think that one is genuine. The OP’s grammar and spelling on that thread are so poor I really can’t believe it’s someone from MNHQ. i.e. your when it should be you’re

DorsetKnobBiscuit · Today 17:05

A thread just stared about obesity.
Confrontational title and first line.

OP only on MN for a few days.
OP hasn't come back once in 45 minutes.

Starts smelling a rat.

DorsetKnobBiscuit · Today 16:45

SecretsAndLies77 · Today 16:12

But the kind of "dilemma" thread you use as an example is a very commonplace life conflict....I just don't see how you could know for sure it's not real. It seems totally possible to be real, to me.

As for the OP not engaging with responses, well it can be impossible to keep up if you have a lot of responses, or sometimes you may not like the responses (people do awful pile ons!) and may just prefer to read quietly or even withdraw from the thread altogether, if you feel it's really against you.

None of that demonstrates the thread is not authentic....

It's the way the OP is phrased. Strident opinon presented as asking a question. E.g. I live in Dubai and won't be coming back as the UK is a shit hole. AIBU? A true thread would probably start "I live in Dubai now and don't miss the UK. Might I regret staying here? Any advice welcome"

Then the OP will come back once. Often with a passive aggressive response e.g. How can you advise me, you live in a Blackpool council house. Just that one response.

If they come back again it's often in a different writing style, full of three letter acronyms, has an emoji and/or no punctuation at all.

There are a dozen little signs that just make you think FFS.

SecretsAndLies77 · Today 16:12

But the kind of "dilemma" thread you use as an example is a very commonplace life conflict....I just don't see how you could know for sure it's not real. It seems totally possible to be real, to me.

As for the OP not engaging with responses, well it can be impossible to keep up if you have a lot of responses, or sometimes you may not like the responses (people do awful pile ons!) and may just prefer to read quietly or even withdraw from the thread altogether, if you feel it's really against you.

None of that demonstrates the thread is not authentic....

BillieWiper · Today 15:50

OutOfTheOtherSide · 16/10/2026 21:41

They don't admit it but they also don't deny it. As I said, it's common practice. I think a lot of people realise that most of the threads, (including this one!), are not written by genuine posters.

I've said this before but I do think they should have some sort of badge on the mumsnet generated threads. Whilst I assume that most people with a brain realise they are written by mumsnet, it is clear that many of the posters, (whether real or fake), are not the sharpest tools in the box. It is all a bit icky that they are deliberately posting clickbait threads for their own profits without being open about it. Not sure I'd sleep at night if I worked for them!

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It's 'icky'what they're doing but calling other users 'not the sharpest tool in the box' is reasonable?
Why are you calling other users idiots? For engaging in posts that might be fake, like you are? With this one?

GoodGirlFaith · Today 11:04

100% right, I’ve thought it for ages. Once you see it, you notice it a lot. Often on a Friday, a couple very juicy AIBU’s will appear to keep people engaged over the weekend; it’s so obvious. I’ve had 2 comments questioning the truth of an OP deleted by MN admin..

daisychain01 · Today 08:12

There are 50+ Unanswered threads on here at any one time.

it's weird behaviour for HQ to 'favour' one or two threads to bump, rather than bumping all of the ones with 0 responses.

ETA @BeckyAMumsnet you haven't responded to the specific concern on here abut bumping threads - why has HQ started doing that.

to your point about users starting threads but not coming back to them as "normal behaviour" on forums, there is no way to prove or disprove that but it is definitely happening more and more. There needs to be some way of controlling it as it is making the content on your site look less trustworthy.

Westfacing · Today 08:02

SoThatsTheWayItIs · Yesterday 21:13

Perhaps MNHQ bumping threads about potentially contentious issues after just 30 minutes because it has had no responses doesn’t help people’s suspicions.

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I never noticed that MNHQ bumped threads until the other day - if I recall it wasn't contentious or even an interesting thread

No idea why it was bumped!

daisychain01 · Today 07:45

UnwillingAdvocate · 16/10/2026 16:51

Read up on the dead internet theory.

yes and while you're googling, look up how to spot AI generated content.

I've noticed how infrequently MNHQ actually engages with real people on here they way they used to. Site stuff has lots of threads that HQ don't bother to comment on. This site is surely ripe for selling off, so they just want to generate traffic, make sure there are lots of controversial threads that whip people into a frenzy etc, they are no longer invested in real people.

WhatNoRaisins · Today 07:27

When I was more naive I'd sometimes report these sorts of threads as wind up and go trolls.

Another problem with these fake threads being so prolific is that it makes us more snarky. So many of us have taken time to reply thoughtfully to things that turned out to be made up that we're more cynical of what we read. It's making it a worse place for posters with real problems.

ThatJadeLion · Today 07:15

This site is full of them. Always had been. People are just better at spotting them now.

SummerAsh · Today 06:45

JaneJeffer · 16/10/2026 16:27

A thread like that is fairly harmless and could actually help someone else. Nobody has to participate.

Indeed. What does it matter? MN is essentially entertainment… and those threads just encourage people to engage with each other, and posters clearly want to do just that.

I’m frequently disappointed when “troll” threads are deleted, as they are often the most interesting or fun! Many of the presumably “real” threads have very dull subject matter.

Thecatspantaloons · Today 03:41

For me it's the ones that go round and round and round , in a loop where everyone's wrong and everyone's right.

Without being super obvious about a current thread running - that happens this time of year. Every year.
People who are or /family members are vulnerable to infections Versus people who still need to go about their lives regardless, due to their own financial situations.
Cue , people screaming how selfish we/you are for not recognising how we all need to stay at home/go to work, to stay alive.
🙄

VividPinkTraybake · Yesterday 23:47

BeckyAMumsnet · Yesterday 10:09

Hi all. Just wanted to address a few points here.

We completely understand the frustration with threads that don't appear genuine but we're not convinced 'engagement farming' is really a thing on Mumsnet in the way it is on other platforms. There's no creator economy rewarding people for going viral.

Just to be absolutely clear, MNHQ doesn't create fake threads or employ people or bots to manufacture discussions. The suggestion that we'd deliberately deceive users to boost advertising revenue simply isn't true. It would also be a pretty daft way to run a community that depends on people's trust.

We'd also caution against assuming that certain posting patterns are evidence of trolling. New usernames, dramatic threads and OPs who don't return are all perfectly normal features of pretty much every online community. The danger of treating suspicion as fact is that genuine posters end up being interrogated or accused of lying, which isn't particularly welcoming, especially for people looking for support.

Please do report anything you're concerned about. We take those reports seriously, but we'd ask people to remember that suspecting a thread isn't genuine and knowing it isn't genuine are two rather different things.

Thanks
MNHQ

Can you comment on Mumsnet bumping contentious threads then?

SoThatsTheWayItIs · Yesterday 22:18

DorsetKnobBiscuit · Yesterday 20:55

Here's a corker of a thread happening right now for anyone interested in this subject https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5590035-how-does-this-guy-not-feel-tired-maintaining-his-professional-image?reply=155400425

Interestingly this thread has just gone “poof”

flumpkeu · Yesterday 21:41

Rosegla55es · Yesterday 21:18

Not saying you start them but you definitely don’t discourage it because you know it’s good for revenue. You get thread after thread attacking SEND children, PIP recipients, autistic children and adults, those on benefits, how shit the UK…. on a parenting forum, on a loop!These same themes every week are coming from disingenuous sources( Reform, possibly abroad) but you do nothing. You just let them run over and again because you know they’ll reach 1000 and that’s great for you as longer threads and more clicks equals more revenue. You’re simply not doing enough to protect the people bringing you revenue from being manipulated.

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Not only that, they then also share those threads on Facebook to further generate interest.

Rosegla55es · Yesterday 21:18

BeckyAMumsnet · Yesterday 10:09

Hi all. Just wanted to address a few points here.

We completely understand the frustration with threads that don't appear genuine but we're not convinced 'engagement farming' is really a thing on Mumsnet in the way it is on other platforms. There's no creator economy rewarding people for going viral.

Just to be absolutely clear, MNHQ doesn't create fake threads or employ people or bots to manufacture discussions. The suggestion that we'd deliberately deceive users to boost advertising revenue simply isn't true. It would also be a pretty daft way to run a community that depends on people's trust.

We'd also caution against assuming that certain posting patterns are evidence of trolling. New usernames, dramatic threads and OPs who don't return are all perfectly normal features of pretty much every online community. The danger of treating suspicion as fact is that genuine posters end up being interrogated or accused of lying, which isn't particularly welcoming, especially for people looking for support.

Please do report anything you're concerned about. We take those reports seriously, but we'd ask people to remember that suspecting a thread isn't genuine and knowing it isn't genuine are two rather different things.

Thanks
MNHQ

Not saying you start them but you definitely don’t discourage it because you know it’s good for revenue. You get thread after thread attacking SEND children, PIP recipients, autistic children and adults, those on benefits, how shit the UK…. on a parenting forum, on a loop!These same themes every week are coming from disingenuous sources( Reform, possibly abroad) but you do nothing. You just let them run over and again because you know they’ll reach 1000 and that’s great for you as longer threads and more clicks equals more revenue. You’re simply not doing enough to protect the people bringing you revenue from being manipulated.

flumpkeu · Yesterday 21:17

DorsetKnobBiscuit · Yesterday 20:55

Here's a corker of a thread happening right now for anyone interested in this subject https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5590035-how-does-this-guy-not-feel-tired-maintaining-his-professional-image?reply=155400425

Haha sure MN, no involvement whatsoever.

SoThatsTheWayItIs · Yesterday 21:13

BeckyAMumsnet · Yesterday 10:09

Hi all. Just wanted to address a few points here.

We completely understand the frustration with threads that don't appear genuine but we're not convinced 'engagement farming' is really a thing on Mumsnet in the way it is on other platforms. There's no creator economy rewarding people for going viral.

Just to be absolutely clear, MNHQ doesn't create fake threads or employ people or bots to manufacture discussions. The suggestion that we'd deliberately deceive users to boost advertising revenue simply isn't true. It would also be a pretty daft way to run a community that depends on people's trust.

We'd also caution against assuming that certain posting patterns are evidence of trolling. New usernames, dramatic threads and OPs who don't return are all perfectly normal features of pretty much every online community. The danger of treating suspicion as fact is that genuine posters end up being interrogated or accused of lying, which isn't particularly welcoming, especially for people looking for support.

Please do report anything you're concerned about. We take those reports seriously, but we'd ask people to remember that suspecting a thread isn't genuine and knowing it isn't genuine are two rather different things.

Thanks
MNHQ

Perhaps MNHQ bumping threads about potentially contentious issues after just 30 minutes because it has had no responses doesn’t help people’s suspicions.

Nimblebinble · Yesterday 21:03

There have always been troll threads on mumsnet but at least back in the day people read and responded to other comments, discussions evolved and often the thread would end up being useful/ funny/ clever. Nowadays we get mostly repeated comments as most of us just read the op.