MN now feels too outing to post.

[Chaiilatte]

Does anyone else feel like they can't post on here anymore as it's way too outing? Not so much trivial problems but more so posting personal problems.. I don't follow MN on Facebook and the threads are always suggested to me on there. Also seen MN suggested to H on his Facebook account when he's sitting next to me, which shows the first paragraph of someone's post.

I wanted to post on here and thought mine might come up suggested on his account and it will be obvious it's me if I've posted my situation.
I just don't think it feels as safe and private as it used to now it's plastered all over Facebook too.

MN is absolutely massive, even if it was never linked on any other platforms. Never post anything on any part of the internet that you wouldn't put on a billboard on the school run.

Yes - but the choice of post is often quite personal and sensitive, and potentially outing. Just seems a bit ‘off’ to me.

MN is public. Why would you be ok with something being on MN but not FB?

But they do tell you. In the terms and conditions. That's what they are there for. If you choose not to read them then that's on you.

'Have a laugh'??

What a weird way you have of looking at things. Is that what you do? Do you look at MN and laugh at people's mental health crisis or moral dilemma or relationship breakdown and burst out laughing?

Seriously? 😲😳

The mind boggles.

They're simply advertising Mumsnet on different platforms, that's all.

If people read about someone else's problem, they may well relate to it, or want to give advice.

So they sign up just like we've all signed up to be here.

I'm pretty sure they don't do it so people can laugh at others.

Surely people change details? So e.g. toddler DD running barefoot on grass is actually toddler DS doing role poly's on tarmac (ok maybe not that but yswim)

I change all sorts on my posts, nothing that affects the main info I want advice on, but for e.g. if I was posting about Dbro's DD being a pain in the arse it's actually about my friends DS type thing... and I'll say the 'DD' is age 6 when he's 5 etc..

Or ill allude to living up North when I'm actually a southerner (or am I.....)

Thanks for the info. I've never seen this come up on FB, and I'm on FB and MN most days all the time. Maybe you have to 'like' their FB page?

Agreed it's why I only post on general discussion topics

I have been here about 10 years and threads have been picked up by the media and been put on FB all of that time.

If what you're writing on the online puts you at risk or you don't want others to figure out it's you don't write it. Nowhere is safe, whether it's Mumsnet (even the 'other place'), private Facebook group, email, WhatsApp. It can all be leaked (as it often is).

• Always change details in your posts, even replies.
• Use a fake email.
• Never reveal your actual location.
• If you're a famous actor who is best friends with Ben Affleck, don't use your real name.

I agree. It feels like that conversation you were having with a group of people in a cafe is suddenly being recorded and broadcast on the radio. It's daft really as this is public so if you could be identified on FB you could be identified here but FB reaches a broader audience.

Can I ask why you need to use a fake email address? I thought email address were kept private.

There was a major data breach a few years ago

OTBT is frequently screenshot onto tattle and Reddit.

Just to be clear, by 'fake', I mean don't have your real name or identifying details in the email, i.e. 'janesmithfromliverpool at email dot com'. Set up an email just for MN.

Hackers breech websites and sell emails and passwords on the dark web.

Specifically about MN: a disgruntled intern posted the IP addresses of several users on Twitter a few years. No way to stop something similar happening with email addresses.

it's not just coming up on facebook feeds, they post on instagram stories too which is why I've never started a thread on here or posted any photos, it would be far too outing. I really think they should keep it to just on here instead.

It's never been a safe or private place. The T&C make that clear and it's incumbent on you to read them.

If you want a higher degree of privacy you need to find a closed forum. You don't even have to be registered to read the posts here and of course content is going to be reproduced on other platforms.

@MattDamon bloody hell, that one passed me by. I'd better make sure of which email address I'm using. Thanks.

Y

MN has 8 million unique users a month - keeping it to here isn't private in the slightest.

If you're a British woman of child bearing age, MN is quite possibly the place you're most likely to be outed or recognised.

You’re right to feel like this, op- don’t post anything on here that you wouldn’t want shared IRL. It’s nog just the FB thing- this site has literally millions of users. I’m constantly surprised at what people post, to be honest.

Just here to say that Moneysavingexpert would DM users and check if it was OK to use a thread or post in their newsletter or other blurb. And certain topics were absolutely off limits as far as they were concerned.