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.

The cynic in me is starting to wonder what is behind this reluctance by MNHQ to admit they have got this wrong. What's the betting that there will soon be a message along the lines of " we are removing this feature for Premium subscribers....if you no longer wish to see it, join Premium now".....Put rubbish stuff on the free site in the hope that more people will pay the premium rate?

So many bloody Zombie threads now
Really fucking annoying

Clicked on about 5 zombie threads in the space of 10 minutes this morning 🙄 Not resurrected by trolls either so obviously coming from the "you might also like" feature.

Sort it out please MN

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

Oh I didn't think you were blaming them at all lovely. It was inevitable that people would get more frustrated due to the recent situation.

I too suspect though that the premium idea could be a likely outcome. Don't know how that would work in active conversations though as its predominantly old threads.

I find the "You May Also Like" feature quite helpful - it offers different opinions on similar situations and has saved me from starting a new thread on a few occasions.

However, Mumsnet - would it be possibly to have a different colour in the threads that are over X months old or something so they are easily identified from current threads? Sometimes it does get a bit confusing particularly with things like politics etc.

I asked the people who had accidentally bumped up threads yesterday whether it was because they saw them in the "You might also like" box, and the people who came back to the threads said that it probably was due to that.

So, MN is actively sabotaging their own site by introducing this 'feature'.

Which is why MN should be listening to users and deleting this stupid feature. Not saying they will fiddle around with it.

If they do that, I'll not be subscribing to Premium. I'll just stop posting (as I think a lot of others will do).

They are aware that there is a cost of living crisis at the moment and paying for an online subscription is VERY low on the list of priorities at the moment for people????

@YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet @LilyMumsnet you could resolve this by adding and extra term to the coding for the "Active Threads" list which excludes a thread from "Active" if there has been a gap of more than 30 days between posts (this would also resolve the issue that people posting "zombie alert" in zombie threads has the unfortunate side-effect of keeping them active)

Another thing you could do is have a tickbox when people create their threads asking them whether old threads with similar keywords in the title are likely to be relevant. Similar to the option in AIBU to switch voting on or off. There are a few recurring threads which this feature isn't totally stupid for, e.g. "recommend child-friendly campsites in wales" or "recommend friendly nurturing non-selective prep school in south London" where a thread that's a year old isn't totally irrelevant - but these threads are far outweighed by "WWYD about this dilemma" or "help me through this unpleasant situation" threads where resurrecting threads from months ago is only going to cause stress, upset and irritation.

I find the "You May Also Like" feature quite helpful - it offers different opinions on similar situations and has saved me from starting a new thread on a few occasions.

It was only introduced 2 days ago. How many threads would you have started?

It is a good disrupter though, tbf. Maybe that was the point (giving MNHQ the benefit of conspiracy not cock-up here).

Attracting contributors and sustaining a forum's life is an ongoing challenge. Chuck in a feature most everyone hates, offer a space for users to protest about it and reinforce the solidarity of the forum....

(or it could just be a deliberate 'Who Moved My Cheese' moment and we will all find the new cheese eventually.)

Absolutely! And how does it stop you starting threads given that you only see the list of similar threads once you’ve posted one? Agree it would be helpful if suggested before the thread is published for practical advice type threads.

There are so many old threads now in active and even after people have posted (several times sometimes!) that the thread is a zombie, posters continue to add pointless advice about a lunch from 2 months ago or a "new" relationship from 6 months ago! If people can't even be bothered reading the posts in a thread on which they are posting, what is the point of giving them more threads to post on??!!

@Whinge because reading a thread can often create question for some / curiosity - reading other opinions on related topics can answer that without the need for a new thread.

Didn't realise there was a rule on how many threads it was acceptable to start in a set time frame.

Exactly. If you want to find other threads that discuss the same topic then you need to use search / advanced search. This new feature is pointless, as it suggests other threads relating to (or not in most cases) the thread that has been posted. I could understand your argument about it being helpful if it suggested similar threads before you created one, but it doesn't.

Reading old threads = Not a problem.
Replying to old threads = issues.

But Threads you might like doesn't help with that at all! You don't see that feature until you have started the new thread! If you want opinions/information on a similar topic you need to use the search function before starting the thread? Once your new thread is up, then you run with it!

reading other opinions on related topics can answer that without the need for a new thread.

Errm how does that work? You don't see the suggestions until you've made the thread.

Reading old threads = Not a problem.
Replying to old threads = issues.

Exactly. I'm sure many others have Googled something with the word MN at the end of the search to bring up relevant threads when they had a question, I know I have multiple times. Also we now have a functioning advanced search which would also help answer questions without the need to post on old threads.

All this new feature is doing is clogging up 90% of the topics with old irrelevant threads which offer no discussion.

Because you read someone else's thread, come up with questions / curiosity on a point related to it and can see at the bottom the threads associated with it.

You can go look through them. Particularly with topics where the search function can throw up some absolute curve balls...

This thread has been the most discussion Ive had in days on here 😂

This thread has been the most discussion Ive had in days on here 😂

Likewise. I'm sick of clicking on stuff that's months or years old so I'm giving up and sticking to this thread as at least its a current discussion.

Adding my voice to those calling for this new "feature" to be scrapped. If not, you're going to have to put a Zombie warning on every thread that has not had a post in the last 7 days or there will be a mutiny on your hands!

You can do the same thing with search / advanced search, or googling a topic and adding Mumsnet to the end of the search.

The new feature shows you 3 /4 threads which have a similar word in the title / opening post. If you think search throws curve balls have you seen the examples on this thread.

Posts about being black showing suggested threads about wearing black jeans

Post about bake off suggesting cremation

Posts about Christmas bargains showing threads years out of date that are no longer relevant

How is this helpful?

Agree to what most are saying about this awful, clunky feature. Do please get rid.

if you want to improve the forum, give us an EDIT BUTTON please.