What is this ‘You might also like’ clutter?

[PalatineHill]

Hi MNHQ. Please just take it out. Or let me opt out of it? It looks a mess.

If here’s something that I might also like to read, I’ll find it by using the search function.
These suggestions are just encouraging the posting of the same points on multiple similar threads, and that will discourage healthy normal thread death.

It’s really distracting to look at visually, I really liked the uncluttered ‘clean’ MN format compared to other forums.

Never complained before but this is too much

Stale and boring - active full of old threads - out of date magazines in waiting rooms is an excellent comparison

My theory is that this new feature is a mis-guided, self defeating attempt to make the site look busier than it is following the awful up-grade which lost so many posters.

Was this a decision made by committee? It feels like it.

People don't come on mumsnet just to find information. We know how to use google, review sites, comparison sites etc. we come on mumsnet for a conversation which you are killing by promoting old threads!

There are a load of unanswered threads, it would make more sense to promote those on the relative topics.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/unanswered

That really shows exactly how crap this “feature” is

And we still have the scattering of "what to pack for your hospital stay and baby" in eg the menopause forum and all the other crap.

I think we’re just waiting for the ‘like’ button to appear unannounced now and that will be the end I guess.

Exactly. No amount of tweaking from MNHQ is going to stop the same / similar things from happening again in the future.

I wonder when someone from MN will comment today, and what other excuses they will come up with to try and justify the ridiculous feature.

ZeroFuchsGiven · Today 07:58
There are a load of unanswered threads, it would make more sense to promote those on the relative topics.

^ This could be a good compromise if the aim is to grow the number of posts on the site?

At least a like button would be useful for some posters, even if the majority don't want it. 😅This new feature wasn't asked for, and doesn't benefit anyone.

I think a Like button would be about as useful as this latest change TBH, hardly anyone wants one. Would be yet another annoyance.

My theory is that this new feature is a mis-guided, self defeating attempt to make the site look busier than it is following the awful up-grade which lost so many posters.

Yep.

@YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet @LilyMumsnet does MN have a UX function at all? It seems really unlikely that something with so many potentially upsetting or offensive outcomes would have got past effective user experience testing. Perhaps worth investing in one if not?

Great minds think alike

That’s an excellent idea.

But yet again you have implemented not just a change but a change which reduces usability and is utterly insensitive without any proper testing. Recommendation engines or even emulating a degree of that functionality is not a minor piece to be bunged in without thorough testing.

But overwhelmingly what comes across from this one is that whoever designs and configures you searches does not understand either your user base or how the userbase interacts.

If they did, I wouldn't be seeing recommendations for black jeans just because I'm in BMN or be told "you may also like" more threads on bereavement let alone all the zombies.
These are errors at the rookie end of configuring recommendation/search.

At the very least change the wording from "you may also like" to "these may be relevant to your search" or some such. Nobody would also "like" more threads on life's more miserable experiences. Better still - divert the effort into getting actual search working better if this nonsense is supposed to help us find information and meaningful engagement rather than just teh click count.

MN is not a research tool. It's a dynamic real time conversation.

Links to other threads on the same topic has no function in the way that it would in, say, a forum about medical issues or travel.

It’s bonkers. I’m on a daily Wordle thread and the algorithm suggests I might like all the older Wordle threads. No thanks they are way out of date and usually full. Then I’m on threads in S&B about Beauty Advent Calendars and the you may like box doesn’t appear there at all.

Please just get rid of it. It’s a rubbish idea. And totally unnecessary.

A way of bumping unanswered threads would make much more sense.

MN please, just roll the change back entirely. It's driving everyone up the wall and the tiny assumed benefit of it really doesn't outweigh the constant annoyance of zombie threads that have been dead for months and years.

Honestly, just admit defeat on this one and move on. Please!

People are actually starting to fall out and get aggressive with the posters resurrecting zombies when its not their fault! I am pointing them all here now.

It really is awful. Apart from anything else, having people comment on a sensitive or painful issue from the past could be a really unpleasant experience for some OPs.

To be fair to those getting frustrated the roll out of this stupid feature unfortunately comes off the back of trolls deliberately resurrecting old threads last week so people are naturally going to presume it's a continuation of that.

Can't blame them for getting frustrated.

I quite agree, and raised this issue several days ago. It should be the most important factor in deciding how, or whether, to keep this function. Causing people emotional distress for no good reason seems like a poor way to act for a website which is ostensibly about parents providing support to one another.

I absolutely dont blame the posters, its utterly frustrating, thats why now I am directing them to this thread.

I absolutely dont blame the posters, its utterly frustrating, thats why now I am directing them to this thread.

Any chance you could also direct MNHQ to this thread? 😅

Despite the many other threads complaining about the new feature they don't seem to be suggesting this thread.