What is this ‘You might also like’ clutter?

I think what it’s doing for me is really making me realise that after ten years I am probably done with Mumsnet as a frequent thing. Seeing all the identical threads on such mundane stuff has been a real wake up call for the fact that MN is a habit that I’m getting less and less out of.

I’m sure I’ll still stick my head in on special occasions but I think I’ve said most of the things I need to say and, more important, read most of the things I want to. Similar threads has helped me see this.

You may minimise the importance of internet/system user experience (for which there's a science behind it), but MNHQ would do well to take it a lot more seriously than they have done.

Reputation is hard won and easily lost and their brand image is being constantly eroded by this gaff.

The fact they resolutely dig their heels in and stubbornly refuse to listen to actual end users willing to take time out of their day to give unremunerated feedback on how negatively this feature is playing out on the site and how it can negatively affect their core members, shows how out of touch they have become.

Indeed it might even send them away because why would you "trust" a site that recommends a thread about "baked beans are gross" because you asked/looked up "what's the difference between net pay and gross pay"

Agreed. There have been plenty of changes on MN over the years that I don't like. The voting feature on AIBU being one of them. But I can see they're useful for other users, and I have the option to turn it off.

This new feature isn't even helping those MNHQ claim it was put in place to help. New users aren't going to stick around because of a few suggested threads that have nothing in common with the original post, or are outdated and irrelevant.

another aLOLgorithm bingo.... A thread about probate, suggesting codicils...

And Mum friends LOL.

Because the thread title is "calling Mumblechum" 😂

aLOLgorithm.

But it's shit, designed for people who aren't members, doesn't work properly, bumps old threads, has increased zombie threads, rendering active and trending a bit pointless, it suggests irrelevant threads and has been insensitive by suggesting inappropriate and offensive threads....

That's why people are complaining.

I have been reading a thread about the evictions on IACGMOOH and many people’s discomfort about the two black women being the first two evictions.

In the the ‘Similar threads’ box is a link to a Housekeeping thread about washing a black and white tracksuit, and getting the white bits whiter.

This is the state of the algorithm.

How's this for irony? 😅
It's made my week.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4602942-zombie-threads?reply=121687172

"Back to top" is on the desktop site.

I may have already posted on this thread, can't remember, but Mumsnet, please reinstate the Go To Top feature and get rid of this pointless and harmful new 'feature'. It was so refreshing to be somewhere where algorithms weren't trying to show 'more of the same', albeit in a very clumsy way. This can be very damaging to some posters depending on topic, and the fact that it's leading to recurring zombie threads, some on very sensitive threads, is a massive pain too.

But that's literally what you said.

Yes I didn’t mean that in a literal sense 😆

Suggestions don't even make sense. This is on the True Blood thread, which has nothing to do with blood tests, and yet...

I was very concerned by the parent looking for help at the end of her rope today being faced with a list on her thread that went:
Am I a bad parent?
Am I terrible?
Am I a bad mum?
That isn't annoying, that's really bad. It's against everything I thought MN was actually for. Not In The Spirit to put it mildly.

God yes.

Agrees. No one is flouncing in frustration but I'm definitely using the site less as I'm sick of clicking on old threads that are irrelevant and I'm guessing I'm not the only one.

I can't see anyone actually rioting, they'll probably just use the site less because they're fed up of all the trolls/ Zombie resurrections and inappropriate thread suggestions.

If it was merely annoying I'd ignore it.

I was very concerned by the parent looking for help at the end of her rope today being faced with a list on her thread that went:

Am I a bad parent?
Am I terrible?
Am I a bad mum?

That isn't annoying, that's really bad. It's against everything I thought MN was actually for. Not In The Spirit to put it mildly.

I love MN for many things but one of the things I love most is how absolutely sassy and salty posters get about changes to the site which have, in real life, almost no impact on them whatsoever. Always when MNHQ makes changes people are like WE WILL RIOT!!! and then they say they’ll think about it and it all goes away and we go back to arguing about how many times a week we wash our towels.

In reality, this is going to make almost no difference to anyone and anyone who says they’ll flounce will go away for a bit then sheepishly name change and come back again.

Shall we play ‘your algorithm failed’ bingo? Here’s one I’ve just stumbled across about dogs sitting on train seats.

I’m still smarting at the weight watchers suggestion for watching Bake Off.

It maybe didn’t help in the way it was meant. I’ve bought a sticky toffee pudding and a cake of chocolate.

No unidentified plants were harmed in the creation of this post 😉

Does your algorithm literally look at keywords and a dictionary...?on This Harry Potter thread, there's a Link to Prince Harry at the UN and a cat called Harry (Litter Tray) ....

Whoever created your recommendation algorithm must have done the absolute minimum of effort.... And if you bought it, demand a refund!

I freely admit this might be some kind of confirmation bias on my part, but I do seem to be noticing more of the goady type of poster popping up on contentious threads and I wonder if this feature is making it easier for them. E.g. they post on one benefit-bashing thread and then another three benefits threads are presented to them.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/3874618-Mumsnet-Premium-membership-please-support-us-if-you-can?postsby=JustineMumsnet

Oww looking back it was actually @JustineMumsnet who mentioned the edit feature. (Gosh was it really so long ago, 2020, how time flies.😯
I guess Premium members will have to wait a little while longer as MNHQ were busy tweaking the suggested threads feature. 😅

Yep, it's been constant since the new feature was added to the site. So many threads from months ago are being ressurected.😔

Like I said this morning.

3 - 6 months may not seem like a lot compared to threads from 2011 or 2007, like we've had recently. But there's no reason to bring up issues, problems and situations that are months out of date. It's shit for those who started the threads as they have to be reminded of a thread that they've moved on from, and it's shit for the posters replying as there's a very good chance the thread topic has been resolved or is now irrelevant.

MN is a forum that is popular because it's advice and comments given and made in real time. What's the point in sticking around if a good amount of the threads are months out of date?

You might also like / Suggested threads is a shit feature and doesn't even serve the purpose @JustineMumsnet claims it was implemented for. New users aren't going to find answers to their queries when so many of the suggested threads have nothing to do with the threads they're shown on.

I understand MNHQ want to try new things, but sometimes those new features don't work. This is one of those times, and there's no shame in admitting they got it wrong.

If they want a new project, how about an edit button. A timed edit feature was even suggested by MNHQ as a perk back when Premium was announced, but nothing has come from it since.