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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

what the actual is that facebook like button doing there?

999 replies

CarolCervix · 15/12/2011 16:42

has it always been there? or has it moved? and does that mean if someone 'likes' that thread it will be posted to their fb page?

OP posts:
MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 16/12/2011 12:51

@StupidLikeButton

So you're not getting rid of the actul button then HelenMN

I'm afraid it's not my decision to make so I can't answer that one.

That's not to say we're ignoring or not listening to your objections. As we hope you're understanding our attempts to apologise for the cock ups explain how it all works.

TheOriginalFAB · 16/12/2011 12:51

*"JjandtheBean:

--i think the like button is a pile of wank too but Helen herself didn't make it and put it there--

and you're quite right"*

Doesn't really matter who put it there. What is important is whose idea was it?

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 16/12/2011 12:52

OK, so you can change them: Child/adolescent mental health had it yesterday.

Can you look at Fostering/Adoption next. There are very real security issues there.

StupidLikeButton · 16/12/2011 12:53

wannabe you are I think, ignorant about the impact FB has generally. And about the tracking they do. it's bad enough that ads are now popping up related to things I have discussed on MN...what next?

StupidLikeButton · 16/12/2011 12:55

Helen It's obvious how it works...and I fail to see how it was a "cock up" which suggest a slip-up or accident...when so may people had made it crystal clear in the past about how unwelcome a like button would be.

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 16/12/2011 12:55

@IAmFuckingPissedOff

OK, so you can change them: Child/adolescent mental health had it yesterday.

Can you look at Fostering/Adoption next. There are very real security issues there.

Child/adolescent mental health shouldn't have it. Shock if it has.

Will go and check now.

And yes, re Fostering/Adoption. Will put on "ones to look at" list.

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 16/12/2011 12:56

@StupidLikeButton

Helen It's obvious how it works...and I fail to see how it was a "cock up" which suggest a slip-up or accident...when so may people had made it crystal clear in the past about how unwelcome a like button would be.

No by cock up, I meant the technical probs some people are having when they click on it and then try to cancel - without success.

HopeEternal · 16/12/2011 12:57

Helen, one question and one point:

Question: Can you (or more likely Tech) please explain exactly how the Like link works? For example, I use different e-mail addresses for FB and MN. Does that mean that the Like link wouldn't "work" for me? (Not that I want it to!!!) Or, is it as someone said earlier in the thread that the cookies stored on my laptop are all that is required to post a link if I (inadvertantly) click on the Like button?

Point: I really don't think enough thought went into what may constitute sensitive topics. I've done a bit of exploring this morning and there are a great many topics that I would think highly likely to contain sensitive threads which have the Like button. I would include Fostering, Adoption, Health and Legal Matters in this list. As many posters have concerns about potential crossover between MN and RL via FB you should also remove the Like button from the MN Local Forum as that is akin to drawing a bullseye around where posters on those threads live. In fact, the more I think about it, the fewer topics I think are appropriate.

Trills · 16/12/2011 12:57

Viewport bar - is that what it's called?

I've gotten used to it actually, find it quite useful to have a link back to Active and Threads I'm On.

IdoNOTlike · 16/12/2011 12:57

Can Home Education be added to that list please?
ta muchly

Thumbinnapuddingwitch · 16/12/2011 12:57

Still think it should ONLY be on AIBU and Chat and nothing else... that's if you insist on keeping it despite vehement opposition.

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 16/12/2011 12:58

No, no Like button on Child/Adolescent Mental Health

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 16/12/2011 13:00

@HopeEternal

Helen, one question and one point:

Question: Can you (or more likely Tech) please explain exactly how the Like link works? For example, I use different e-mail addresses for FB and MN. Does that mean that the Like link wouldn't "work" for me? (Not that I want it to!!!) Or, is it as someone said earlier in the thread that the cookies stored on my laptop are all that is required to post a link if I (inadvertantly) click on the Like button?

Point: I really don't think enough thought went into what may constitute sensitive topics. I've done a bit of exploring this morning and there are a great many topics that I would think highly likely to contain sensitive threads which have the Like button. I would include Fostering, Adoption, Health and Legal Matters in this list. As many posters have concerns about potential crossover between MN and RL via FB you should also remove the Like button from the MN Local Forum as that is akin to drawing a bullseye around where posters on those threads live. In fact, the more I think about it, the fewer topics I think are appropriate.

HopeEternal, I'm pretty sure it's the latter - ie your cookies will work it out for you. But I'll just check that with Tech.

And yes, we've said we'll look more closely at the list of excluded topics. Please bear with us while we do so.

anothermum92 · 16/12/2011 13:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

wannaBe · 16/12/2011 13:01

helen, how about if the like button could be disabled in settings somehow, like the viewport thing? That way those that don't like it could have it not in view and not run the risk of clicking it accidentally.

I don't like it either but more because it's just something more to scroll past. in the same vane I don't like the twitter feed that appears above some threads because I have to scroll past it while looking for the thread title (I use a screenreader so title isn't obvious if there's something in its way iyswim).

But we can't always like every feature on every website. most shopping websites have "like" buttons on them, most news websites have "like" buttons on them. this is no different.

stupidlike if you are that suspicious of facebook then presumably you don't have it, in which case you are not being compromised. Either way, as long as you are not linking the two, you are not being compromised. Nothing ignorant about that - I am fully aware of how facebook, google etc gather data, and it is not done through someone else liking something - only you can contribute to them gathering data on you unless you are publishing your personal information eg email addresses etc in your threads.

anothermum92 · 16/12/2011 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

HippoPottyMouth · 16/12/2011 13:02

It is cookies, there is NO LINK between your mumsnet account and your facebook account.

It's the same with a like button on any other website (e.g. many shopping sites, you can 'like' a product, the surveymonkey site.. etc.), it's irrelevant whether you have logged in to the site you are 'liking', facebook does all off the recognition and posting to your wall.

Thumbinnapuddingwitch · 16/12/2011 13:04

Another technical question - if a thread has been "liked", and it shows as a number next to it (this I have noticed) - if the people who have "liked" it then UNLIKE it, does the number reduce accordingly? For e.g. - a thread I frequent was accidentally "liked" by a frequent poster - if she then unlikes it, does the number of "likes" go back from being 1 to 0?

Trills · 16/12/2011 13:04

If LurkyMcLurker (whose real name is Fiona) clicks on the button then:

The thread will be posted to Fiona's facebook wall.

It will say "Fiona likes this thread on this website".

It will not say "Fiona is LurkyMcLurker"

Fiona's friends may click on it and read it.

That is all that will happen.

wannaBe · 16/12/2011 13:06

it's cookies that make the link not that mn and fb are linked in any way.

so if you were on a different computer and "liked" a thread and hadn't used fb on that computer you would need to log into fb in order to make the connection.

Thumb yes if you remove a like then the number goes down, in much the same way as a status update is "liked" by someone...

QuickLookBusy · 16/12/2011 13:09

Helen the like button may not be on child/mental health but it IS on child behaviour/teenagers etc.

You only have to look at some threads in those topics to see that posters are posting about VERY sensitive problems. If an OP wants to discuss a problem about their child they do not want the worry that some idiotperson might want to splash it all over their facebook.

You need to look very hard at which topics it is on.

wannaBe · 16/12/2011 13:09

exactly trills. No mn identities are being revealed. No information is being gathered on other people on the thread. it will only appear on fiona's wall.

Lafawnduh · 16/12/2011 13:10

How does the FB button on the chat threads work?

If chats are deleted in 90 days does that mean the ones linked to FB are too? Or if they are linked will they be there after the 90 days?

CalmDownDearItsOnlyALikeButton · 16/12/2011 13:11

Well I'm guessing mnhq qon't change it because as everyone has already noted... despite the desperate cries for boycott.. that

1. None of you lot are very good at boycotts and complain about Nestle whilst simultaneously telling us about your brand spanking new stupid coffee machine from you know who

2. And most importantly.... every other bugger has a bloody FB like button and that hasn't stopped most people from using Twittter or Amazon or god knows who else. And to be honest I'd much rather people didn't notice I was buying a shiny new vibe or an xmas pres for dh before they knew about the stupid shit I post about on mn.

  1. you'll forget and get over it. Nothing has changed. You are in no way linked to your real name. Only in the sense more people will be on mumsnet and more likely to find you if you put identifying info on here. It is NOT anonymous if you don't name change frequently and post identifying information. I think it is very high time we all learned that.
redlac · 16/12/2011 13:11

its only a link so if after 90 days someone clicked on the link on your fb wall then it would just find a error page on MN