So I’ve just discovered Tattle…

[ifyouthinkyouregettingawayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

My friend told me about it recently so I thought I’d have a look. So I do have some views on ‘influencers’ showing off their DC before they’re old enough to consent, but blimey, this goes above any beyond that. There is a woman on Istagram called ‘Knee Deep in Life’ I’ve followed her for years and I can see that’s she’s not everyone’s cup of tea but she’s pretty inoffensive but the way she’s been talked about of Tattle is horrible, I don’t know how anyone could describe as anything else other than bullying.

i stopped reading after this and I’m very willing to stand corrected if this was a one off and every thing else is well put together and thought through but suspect that’s not the case. I know MN is in no way perfect but just found it really nasty.

That's always the line trotted out yes, but I don't think it stands up to any level of critical thinking. I think it's very sad if someone's idea of entertainment is dedicating huge amounts of their free time to getting wound up online. It's like an addiction. It isn't equivalent to spending some time browsing and participating on a diverse forum, or writing a letter/email to express a view.

Of course there are unpleasant people on here, but the difference is that the aim of this forum isn't to be horrible about others. The moderation here does stick pretty closely with the talk guidelines, rather than just the whims of the mods. You'll get banned from Mumsnet if you're repeatedly abusive, on Tattle you get banned if you tell someone they shouldn't be calling a 2 year old ugly. A significant difference.

But on tattle it's acceptable to be insulting & abusive to celebrities, influences, bloggers etc.

The rule there seems to be "be as vicious as you like but not to fellow users" and its excused under the guise of critical thinking or exposing lies. Neither of which require nastiness and from what I've seen, many users are actually very poor at critical thinking. It's incredibly tribal - I've seen them turn on people for taking the opposing view to the thread. It's an echo chamber, and echo chambers are devoid of critical thinking.

There's a set of semi-viral tweets on twitter at the moment where some people have decided that any post which uses words they're not familiar with (such as 'delve') must be written by AI, when outside their peer group people may use those same words regularly. There's a similar concept at play in tattle.

Sure, they're supportive of each other and sure they point out people who are unpleasant or ridiculous on mumsnet, but tribes do support each other, it doesn't change the overarching attitude which is belittle and abuse anyone who they've decided deserves it.

This is very true.

There’s a specific nastiness on Tattle that you wouldn’t get away with here (although I will concede that mumsnetters can be vile to each other). For example, a woman with stage 4 cancer was criticised for not making an effort to look presentable. I’ve also seen children referred to as slow, among other things.

I’ve said in a pp it’s very cliquey and on a lot of threads, if you even so much as offer a slightly differing opinion, other posters can be just as bad as the vipers on mumsnet. The moderation is all over the place as well and I think a lot of people are waking up to how badly the site is actually run.

I think it’s an absolute cesspit. What is the absolute obsession with celebrities ? It’s incredibly nasty .

I dunno what the obsession is with celebrities, but there's a massive thread about the Richardsons' divorcing right now and a whole section on the Royal Family here, not all of it flattering 😂. People like throwing around opinions on famous people's lives.

I think because MN is so strictly moderated and increasingly sanctimonious, Tattle feels rather naughty. And somewhat refreshing in comparison.

There's plenty of celebrity obsession on here as well, and posters aren't exactly polite at times.

Obviously people do talk about celebrities, both online and in person, but you would have to pretty ignorant (wilfully or otherwise) to not see how the obsessive and vicious behaviour on Tattle is different. As for thinking that not endorsing abuse is sanctimonious, well I think that just about sums up the problem. Plus I've never encountered an online group more pleased with themselves and certain in their superiority over the general public than Tattlers - thinking particularly of the Jack Monroe and Harry and Meghan threads.

Influencers are NOT celebrities!

Isn't that a bit like saying that reality TV personalities are not celebrities? If someone is well known, they have celebrity.

I think to be a celebrity you have to be famous enough to be known by the majority of people. So, influencers are not celebrities they are what is known as 'insta famous'. IMO.

I think it's tempting to be quite dismissive of influencers - but then again, mainstream media has lost a lot of traction with and relevance to younger audiences these days. They're making their living off entertaining the masses with their antics/opinions, and sometimes that takes them into the mainstream (or sometimes it flows the other way).

So when you say known by the "majority of people" - who is that now, and who will they be? With such saturation and choice will there be "household names" in the same way, I wonder.

Video killed the radio star and all that..

’insta famous’ is famous and a type of celeb now whether we like to admit it or not, even if we know them or not, some of these influencers have millions of followers.

bloody Kim kardashian arguably one of the most famous woman on earth is ‘insta famous’ and an influencer.. She just now sells her own brand.

These influencers have a public following and therefore there is a place to discuss them, as there is forums for ‘real’ celebs. There is literally NO difference.

Depends on the demographic I guess. Lots of my uni age students know influencers more than TV figures. TV figures are getting aged out

True. Just showing my age I suppose

I think the threads are like any forum: people find pleasure in each other's company. The same people are furious at Monroe, Simon Harris, et al and post about it, and they form their own little community.

‘insta famous’ is famous and a type of celeb now whether we like to admit it or not, even if we know them or not, some of these influencers have millions of followers.insta famous’ is famous and a type of celeb now whether we like to admit it or not, even if we know them or not, some of these influencers have millions of followers’

I think the ‘even if we know them or not’ is what doesn’t sit well with a lot of people. So many are now famous because we’re told they’re famous. Yes accounts can have millions of followers, but how many are actually active and how many are bonafide and not purchased by the thousands is an unknown quantity. Surely people are wising up to the fact it’s paid advertising by another name, not tried and tested recommendations.

The scathing opinions are a direct result of the exposure that most of ‘influencing’ is smoke and mirrors. Although it’s no worse than genuine celebs advertising We Buy Any Car, stairlifts, timeshares or Farm Foods etc. that you know they wouldn’t touch in a hundred years.

Direct personal attacks and pulling people’s families apart, is never on though and smacks of spiteful bullying at least.

A message for Itchy of Itchington if you're reading... There is no such thing as too much chocolate and frites which may be the reason I have lived here for 10 years and will never leave. And the moules. And the beer.

I'm just going to reiterate the message here that a lot of Tattle seems to be about influencers exploiting their kids and advertising. I wish Tattle didn't have the conversation bit wider society did. It was discussed in Parliament in 2022 but nothing since I don't think
Meanwhile families like 'The Inghams who are a registered business make a businesss of having their kids online which is unregulated and Tattle has a field day about it. Tbf Tattle would anyway but just ranting about the unregulated child influencer industry.

*but

OP here and I've been doing a bit more looking at Tattle. I have to say, and I'm sorry if this offends anyone, the Mumsnet threads are very funny. I've never understood the MN obsession with the French either.

Also my thread featured ;)

Read a bit on there about how awful Kate Lawler (ex big bro) and had a look at her account and I think she's great so have now given her a follow.

Still think some people on there are really unnecessarily mean about (I ventured into the Beckham threads... never again) but I'm sure you can say that any huge forum on the internet.

Anyway, I think I'm done with it now (I'm sure they'll be gutted to know.)

I like the Mumsnet threads, especially the size French, size Tui and size Greggs references. It’s a very humorous read and not really spiteful.

how do youd o a search on tattle it wont let me

I think that there are some awful Tattle threads on there but I went to look at the Beckhams one and I think I’ve seen pretty much everything on there said on MN at some time or other.