Is Mumsnet addictive?

[PurpleFlowersShed]

Listening to R4 on the social media ban for teens, with Justine Roberts talking about how addictive algorithms are so problematic.

I'd agree with this. It's not just teens though is it? How much are we trying to save our past selves (because our current selves are past saving) with this ban? And how much is Mumsnet itself addictive and intentionally so?

Why Ay Don't You?

Me too 😭

Listening to R4 on the social media ban for teens, with Justine Roberts talking about how addictive algorithms are so problematic.

Mumsnet does not use algorithms for threads and posts that you see though.

Justine is talking about social media that feeds you more of what you want to see. Mumsnet does the opposite really. It's all there for you to pick and choose and people often prefer discussion with opposing views as it's more interesting that living in an echo chamber.

I think this is what makes it different to other social media and more interesting. Also, you learn new things all the time about property, the law, etc. just by reading the advice given to others.

I find addictive and I am with my phone in general.
I do have to switch my phone off and hide it away, try to wean myself off it. I can see why teenagers become like it and I only use it for certain things ( I don’t go much on other social media platforms )
I do use whats app for family things.

That goes back to my earlier point about not needing anything particularly sophisticated or complicated to bring about addictive compulsion though...threads appear in Active on the basis of a simple algorithm, and we click them on the promise that they will deliver more and new content.

I blocked MN from my phone a couple of weeks ago, but have just gone in and turned off my restrictions—and here I am! I think it’s a sign that this thread is one of the first I came across since unblocking myself.
@PurpleFlowersShed hello my name is Iwillbe and I am addicted to Mumsnet.

But they are driven by diverse users, not algorithms.

YES. It is highly addictive. I've even stopped reading magazines on Kindle. I am on here so much. I don't have any social media, though (inc Facebook, Twltter/X, Instagram) so time spent on here doesn't seem so bad.

I'm so invested. I found this site last summer when I saw a question about how the op had berated her husband for a £1 item in a supermarket, when she herself had made him sell his London flat as she had lent her friend a huge sum of money, and the friend did a runner, so she needed him to sell his flat to recoup the loss.

From then on, I was hooked.

I asked my own very sad question at the weekend, myself. But can't bear to look at it now. I'm so grateful to the wonderful people who replied (without being rude to me).