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Labour Banner surrounding the whole of MN

70 replies

SlightlyJaded · 12/06/2024 17:17

Just really uncomfortable with this. Feel like MN should be politically neutral - and the placement of the ad - all the way around the MN interfact - makes it look like Labour is practically sponsoring MN. It's been like this for a couple of days now.

I can't imagine you'd do this for any other political party?

And for the record - I'm a Labour voter.

Labour Banner surrounding the whole of MN
OP posts:
cheezncrackers · 13/06/2024 19:09

I don't see it because I have AdBlocker installed. I recommend everyone does the same! It's free and it's bloody amazing.

ichundich · 13/06/2024 19:08

I'm not surprised given the hate for private schools and massive union support on this site. Some weeks ago the Labour ad was everywhere in the app. MN = Labour mouthpiece.

IwantToRetire · 13/06/2024 19:06

Anyhow, it has meant it is now possible to make it look that KS endorses the FWR forum on mumsnet - although he gets really negative reviews on there. (click on image)

Labour Banner surrounding the whole of MN
OliveTheaBough · 13/06/2024 19:06

You can buy ad space anywhere - I don’t know why you are uncomfortable, it’s not a court order to vote for them 😂

IwantToRetire · 13/06/2024 19:04

You (and many others) really don't seem to understand how advertising works!

I do exactly understand that's why not just me are raising the question.

The presentation and size are a statement. That's why the question is to MNHQ.

If it is purely money because they charge more for a swamp style ad, then assuming there are some ads they wouldn't accept, want MNHQ thought in allowing this.

And sends the message that other parties dont think mumsnet if worth bothering with.

Hardly a good look for mumsnet!

BIWI · 13/06/2024 18:57

@IwantToRetire

Is this in fact not an ad for Labour, but a statement by MNHQ as it is not presented, nor has the options to interact with as other ads have?

You (and many others) really don't seem to understand how advertising works!

Any company that is creating its advertising campaign will have a media plan, and they choose where they want to spend their money. Mumsnet will be just one of many places.

Unless Mumsnet refuse to take their ads (which they do for some companies, e.g. Nestlé, I believe) then they will take money from the Labour party as well as any other of the parties.

Advertising on the site, whether it's banner advertising or down the side of the page is just that - advertising. It does not mean that Mumsnet are endorsing the product/brand/political party.

IwantToRetire · 13/06/2024 18:56

Spirallingdownwards · 13/06/2024 18:42

Doesn't show on mine. Are you sure it's not one of those tailored ones that picks up what you are reading online?

Well if it is, it doesn't work - so whoever is selling their targetting as being spot on are lying!

I think that's why I find it so aggravating, and is turning me from thinking not much about the Labour Party now just wants them to P off.

Maybe some incel intern who claims they are super clever with internet influencing has been left in charge.

RoseUnder · 13/06/2024 18:48

hattie43 · 12/06/2024 22:04

MN is a left wing echo chamber

I actually thought the opposite, and that people lean more right, Conservative.

The people who own the website will know as they can analyse data, sentiment, frequency of certain keywords in posts. Over the years Mumsnet has existed this makes for a very interesting data set.

I'm fairly confident Mumsnet protect this data fiercely and in accordance with regulation - but not certain, and that why I've asked what data Mumsnet share with advertisers, including political parties.

Eg social media platforms, even forums like Reddit (US based), allow targeted advertisers, eg to people who follow left or right wing content + influencers, or who are from a certain area, demographic, etc. I'm curious about how much Mumsnet allows targeting and also what data they share about the user base with advertisers (which could allow them to charge higher rates for cause-based advertising than other websites, depending on who wants to reach what demographic). It's all a bit technical but I find it fascinating, and fairly untransparent to date.

Theunamedcat · 13/06/2024 18:47

Never seen it on here?

BIWI · 13/06/2024 18:44

Yay! to the Labour party though, for creating such good cut-through with their advertising!

Spirallingdownwards · 13/06/2024 18:42

Doesn't show on mine. Are you sure it's not one of those tailored ones that picks up what you are reading online?

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 13/06/2024 18:41

hattie43 · 12/06/2024 22:04

MN is a left wing echo chamber

If only.

Currently being dominated by all the bleating private school parents.

BIWI · 13/06/2024 18:40

If there's a little x to tick, those ads are AdChoices, which are very different from the ads that are paid for.

IwantToRetire · 13/06/2024 17:42

They're all being served by the same ad company, so I doubt Mumsnet even knew the labour one would appear until it did.

Sorry but just to repeat myself this is not like other ads.

Other ads come via google and you can click on the X in the top right had corner dismisses this and send feedback.

This ad does NOT have this option.

So this is imposed, where others you can dismiss.

Bobbotgegrinch · 13/06/2024 13:41

IwantToRetire · 12/06/2024 22:02

I have pointed out it isn't on the page in the same way as a google ad.

And anyway totally misses the point of why some are questioning it.

It takes up the same amount of space as a few other ads on here. There's a KFC football based one in particular that's filling up exactly the same areas, but is even more annoying because it changes based on the position of your mouse pointer.

They're all being served by the same ad company, so I doubt Mumsnet even knew the labour one would appear until it did.

BIWI · 13/06/2024 12:50

It's advertising. Which MN will be being paid for. Really don't see why you should be so upset about it!

Do you feel the same way about all the ads on your facebook or instagram timelines?!

RoseUnder · 13/06/2024 12:37

Hi Mumsnet, do you have an ethical advertising policy?

Would you sell ad space to extremist, hateful organisations (eg Reform UK, or the British National Party, For Britain, EDL?) It doesn't look like it but I'd hate to assume and this thread has throw up some interesting questions I imagine many Mumsnet users would like to know about. Also bumping up my previous question - specifically what user data do you share with your advertisers?

The organisation 'Stop Funding Hate' does great capacity building work in this space, in case you need policy development support. https://stopfundinghate.info/about-the-campaign/ethicaladvertisers/

Also reiterating this Labour ad is fine with me!

Tippexy · 12/06/2024 23:14

HousedInMySoul · 12/06/2024 17:59

I thought Justine was mates with David Cameron? Had always assumed, perhaps wrongly, that the owner of mumsnet was a tory because of that.

Gosh, nowhere near! This has always been a left-leaning site, both in ownership and in usership.

HelpMeGetThrough · 12/06/2024 22:59

Just really uncomfortable with this.

Just wait until the Reform one pops up with Farage's mug all over it.

🍿 👀

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 12/06/2024 22:23

sparkleowl · 12/06/2024 22:08

If they didn’t allow postings from all political persuasions that would mean we were in China.
I guess all forums accept ads from what they see as a credible source.

Re "china" - I recall the media/nes banging on about the lockdown in China not being at all possible in the UK - guess what happened a few weeks later, just saying

However, MN is a fair platform IMO

IwantToRetire · 12/06/2024 22:12

Just to repeat the point that no one is registering.

Not just the size makes it different to other ads but also, unlike the ads rotated by google, you cannot dismiss this ad, which you can do with google tell them why you dont want to see it.

It would be the same point if it were from any of the other party (even the Party of Women!).

Because the format is not that of google ads you cant give feed back, and you cant close it.

sparkleowl · 12/06/2024 22:09

RoseUnder · 12/06/2024 17:58

It's fine with me! It was a useful summary of their policies. Good for Labour HQ for booking the ad space before the Tories did - UNLESS the Tories don't see Mumsnet as a key market/outlet for them to run ads on.

I'm sure they've all done their homework on this, and both parties have sophisticated ad-buying machinery so not short of opportunities.

Maybe the Tories will book it next week 😁

AquaFurball · 12/06/2024 22:09

It's just an ad. Most of the ads I see completely irrelevant to me, would be more offended seeing Tory ads but they'd have just as much right to advertise here as anyone else. Nothing is politically neutral anymore, and a free platform has no obligation to be 🤷

sparkleowl · 12/06/2024 22:08

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 12/06/2024 17:22

TBH - its MN's site, their choice.
MNHQ may favor Labour but they do allow postings from all political persuasions and that in my books is a massive credit to MN

I say the banner yesterday and thought, WTH - but on refresh it had disappeared, just Starmer will after the GE

If they didn’t allow postings from all political persuasions that would mean we were in China.
I guess all forums accept ads from what they see as a credible source.

Reugny · 12/06/2024 22:06

I don't get a Labour banner.

And I use MN in more than one political constituency.

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