Reactions are here - update from MNHQ

I just came on here (belatedly, I now see) to thank @KatyMumsnet for the new reaction emojis which I am looking at on my laptop in the Firefox browser and which do not bother me in the least. It is clear what each reaction means, and being old (school) I've never considered using the laugh or thanks emoji sarcastically/bitchily, nor had them used on me that way.
I now await a trickle of sarcastic thanks and laughter reactions.
Merry Christmas, everyone!

Clearly, you weren't on your doorstep on Thursday evenings in the UK during Covid.

You can, just hover over them and you can see who they're from.

I'd like a 'disagree' option though!

Thank you @KatyMumsnet !

I must admit though, I am not keen on the LOL-ing emoji. It is being used to mock some people. I have seen quite a few posters saying this has happened to them.

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Not all evolution is successful; some leads to the extinction of species. In the same way not all change is for the better, and not all progress leads you where it is most desirable to end up.

I suspect this latest tinkering of having arrived at the answer to a question absolutely nobody was asking.

They can be changed. Like everything on the internet, Mumsnet is continually evolving.

It's all faff and folly. Gimmicks. What happens when these ones cease to be the fashion?

... following up on my previous post I can now see that there are tool-tips, but only after you click on the icons.

I really liked the "thanks" button.

I was given the "hands" on a couple of my posts today and wasn't sure how to interpret them. The email just said someone reacted to my post. The hands could be a wave, or applause, or a sarcastic slow hands clap. I came here to Site Stuff to find out, because hovering over the symbols doesn't explain what they are.

@KatyMumsnet , the new symbols need tool-tips to make them unambiguous.

I'm glad you didn't use namaste hands for thankyou - that definitely would have confused people. 🙃

I hate them too. They are childish and make MN like the more tacky SM sites. Also, I keep accidentally triggering them as I scroll, then they pop up and obscure the post I'm trying to read. Please ditch them.

It was a nice change, to see that there were more options to choose from.

My first thought when I saw the laughing face emoji was that it could be used in a negative way, not to denote genuine amusement, but to be sarcastic and nasty.

I liked the original hand clap as a "thanks" because it covered so many responses: genuine thanks, for the poster expressing their heartfelt feelings, or your own in agreement.

A 'thanks' for broaching a subject important to you, or for their take on it, or just because you liked or appreciated their post.

I'm glad the "React" emoji will remain private.

I could see the 'thumbs up" emoji I gave a poster this morning and I began a search for this MN notification thread regarding the new React emojis to find out if it was public or not.

If posters prefer the hand clap, then that's the one that they will use the most to cover all the other emotions.
Many will welcome a choice, I'm sure.

Sorry, my comment wasn't aimed at you personally, I should have specified that. I was just letting off steam about a couple of things. I apologise.

I don't have the app, I said some people use it and have trouble with it. You are also very privileged if you can afford a laptop as not everyone can have both a phone and a computer/tablet and in today's world a phone takes priority. Try putting yourself in other people's shoes and realise not everyone has the same access to various "solutions" (apple vs android, app versus browser- and which browser, laptop versus phone, and finally the age and OS version of the phone/computer). There are a hell of a lot of variables if you really think about it.

I've already stated mine only works sometimes. If you can figure out why then perhaps you should apply for a job with the MN tech team.

I scroll with my right thumb so never hit reactions button accidentally, I do however hit "report" quite a bit.

Agree with "Add post" button, it's not needed.

I didn’t totally understand the complaints about the emojis popping up all the time but yes this seems almost deliberately designed to be touched just by normal scrolling. I’m already fed up of the faces appearing when I’m simply scrolling through a thread. Please change the position of this option on the footer (and completely get rid of the ‘add post’ button while you’re at it, please)

Yes I have come here to say the same thing! When I scroll along I keep hitting the react button and the options pop up and mask the messages. As a PP said it can be a bit jarring having smiley faces over quite sad posts. Can the position at least be changed please?

Not a fan of this new react button

The old way of just giving thanks was fine, and useful

@AngelontopoftheTree you are now the proud owner of my first 😂x

@SwordToFlamethrower@hobbledyhoy@xyz111@Minimum85percentCocoa

Just to say the beta version of the app (worth applying for the test if you have the inclination) is a vast improvement over what we had, especially on android. It's not perfect, but you can edit posts, vote, see all posts by a poster and jump to a post in the thread etc. give thanks if you want to (I've not checked other reactions).

Edit: Checked and it seems to be thanks only for now!

Ah Daisy you can't come on here and be so sensible 🤪 🤣

Surely getting a string of 😂emoticons wouldn't be due to bullying herd mentality, because the perpetrators can't see other people using it. It would be down to coincidence.

In fact it's a good argument for keeping them hidden to prevent online bullying due to that lack of visibility and people piling in.

I'd like to think that bad apples on MN are the exception not the rule - other platforms such as Reddit are more likely to be toxic (not saying they use emoticons for that, but the behaviour is pretty awful).

Then don't use the app then. I never have. But then I use my laptop to view Mumsnet because I actually like a large screen and seeing what I'm viewing. As well as the ability to fast keyboard touchtype rather than spending 5 minutes painstakingly tapping out a reply. I don't understand people who say 'I can't do that on the app' but don't think about not using it as a solution.

Very good point OYBBK
Lovely to 'see' you again, I've missed you!
(I was reading back the old Skripal threads recently - wild times! And, I think the first time we witnesed Russian trolls in action)
Merry Christmas to you and yours

Bookmarks or Watch threads don't always work for some people especially if they are using the app. Mine is intermittent and I have zero clue as to why it doesn't always work. Personally I think they should make it impossible to quote the first post as that if far more annoying to scroll past than one itsy bitsy letter.

I know that I don't post here very often anymore. But I feel that the laugh reaction has the potential to be used as a hidden form of online bullying.
If someone posts something serious they could then get a string of people laughing at them, hidden to everyone else, so that they can't be called out on it.