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.

Very random.

will MN tell us what is happening?

@LilyMumsnet @YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet

Considering that this topic generated so many comments and pissed so many people off, is it possible to have some sort of update?

It seems that the feature has been removed/is being phased out, in which case hurrah and thank you very much, but some sort of comment from MNHQ is warranted.

Has it been removed because of the feedback - despite the numerous MNHQ comments saying that it was "a good thing" and just needed tweaking.

Has it been removed for a different reason?

Is the removal temporary or permanent?

I think MNHQ has been reading Elon Musk's new book "How to wreck your social media site without really trying"

"We think you may also like this" clusterfck

😂 😂 😂

You may have something there 😆

Maybe there is no response because the MN offices have been locked? 😂

Could be something like this! (Assuming this is genuine, which I haven't checked.)

(Parody account, I think, now I have checked, but the way things are going over there ...)

Hello everyone - just been having a read of this.

First thing to say is that we've been tweaking the formula in response to your feedback so that older threads get an even lower weighting that they did. That's caused some re-processing which is why it's not appearing on every thread at the moment - not because we've removed it.

We've also excluded some more topics as well as some types of threads/ key words. Thanks again for the feedback on those.

We introduced this feature because a huge amount of visitors to MN (around 50%) arrive from unbranded search (ie they type query into Google and end up on a Mumsnet thread); showing similar threads improves that experience, as it makes it more likely they'll find the answer to their query - and it's being used a lot so we do think it's a useful feature.

But we obviously don't want to make the user experience worse for those who tend to use Active as a home page. According to the data there has been a small rise in zombie threads appearing in Active since launch of similar threads (4% of Active threads are those not posted on for 6 months s vs 3% prior to launch, and 10% of threads not posted on for 30 days vs 6% pre-launch). It's clear from this discussion that some folks really, really don't like these older threads appearing in Active at all, so we're going to think about how we can address this - either via further tweaks in the formula, or by highlighting when a thread hasn't been posted on for a while and/or via a user setting for excluding older threads in Active altogether. We'll come back to you with an update on that asap. Thanks meantime for the input.

We introduced this feature because a huge amount of visitors to MN (around 50%) arrive from unbranded search (ie they type query into Google and end up on a Mumsnet thread); showing similar threads improves that experience, as it makes it more likely they'll find the answer to their query - and it's being used a lot so we do think it's a useful feature.
So you've set up a system geared towards those who haven't a clue what mumsnet is, or how it works, so that they can bump zombie threads?
They can't bump them by merely reading them, they have to register and post on them...
And I understand that it's been difficult to open a new account because of efforts to Troll proof the site

I don't like to cast doubt on your numbers, but you seriously are saying that the increase in zombie threads in Active increased from 3% to 4%, yet regular posters were complaining that Active was over run with Zombies?

Sigh, it's not going away then. Talk about ignoring actual specific feedback from users that the feature is not useful nor an enhancing experience for loyal readers.

A bit like banks and insurance companies who place significant efforts on getting new business (people randomly Googling and ending up on MN arent likely to be existing loyal regulars) and place no value on the needs of people who are on here regularly, some for over a decade. Instead we are unpaid unwitting testers highlighting a feature that is poorly designed and inflicted on us. All a bit lalalalalalala [fingers in ears].

Meanwhile a feature that is requested time after time after time, the edit functionality is ignored and kicked into the long grass. Poor show.

HAHAHA

OK. Mumsnet hates it’s actual members then. We can all get in the sea 🤣

I don't like to cast doubt on your numbers, but you seriously are saying that the increase in zombie threads in Active increased from 3% to 4%, yet regular posters were complaining that Active was over run with Zombies?

I question those %, and of course any % can be bandied about willy nilly with no ability to prove otherwise.

We introduced this feature because a huge amount of visitors to MN (around 50%) arrive from unbranded search (ie they type query into Google and end up on a Mumsnet thread); showing similar threads improves that experience, as it makes it more likely they'll find the answer to their query - and it's being used a lot so we do think it's a useful feature

So it's 'new customers only' then?

For which the emoji "Facepalm" was actually invented🙈

It's clear from this discussion that some folks really, really don't like these older threads appearing in Active at all, so we're going to think about how we can address this - either via further tweaks in the formula, or by highlighting when a thread hasn't been posted on for a while and/or via a user setting for excluding older threads in Active altogether.

I'm sure it's more than 4%, but thank you for looking into this and we'll all definitely appreciate an update soon. I can't think anyone enjoys seriously enjoys the old threads for posting in. I understand someone may want to read them, but I can't think of one reason why they should be left open to post in a year out of date!

Thank god for this thread - I thought I was the only one who was getting thoroughly pissed off with yet another useless and unwanted feature. Seriously @YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet etc - do you do any testing before you introduce these nonsensical tweaks and are you actively trying to put people off using the site? The amount of scrolling that’s required now to get to the bit of the screen where you can actually post is beyond a joke.

@JustineMumsnet Surely the best way to improve the experience for this amazing 50% (are you SURE the decimal point isn't in the wrong place?) is to improve the in house Search feature?
I'm a regular but I leave the site and use google to find stuff back on MN because the in house Search feature is pants.
Though frankly if Google is generating providing half your traffic, I can see why MN cant be arsed to improve their own search function.

It still doesn’t solve the issue of threads which are distressing to the OPs coming back to life and giving them notifications about new posts, though? Lots of those are on AIBU or Chat, rather than in specific topics boards.

or by highlighting when a thread hasn't been posted on for a while and/or via a user setting for excluding older threads in Active altogether.

Sigh. Which is exactly what people have been asking MN to do to solve the issue of zombie threads. MNHQ have been "having a think about this" for as long as I can remember so it seems unlikely that you will suddenly find a solution.

If you can come up with an algorithm to make "you may also like" suggestions based on a single thread, then surely you can come up with one that looks at the date the thread was posted (we used to be able to see that before opening a thread but you took that option away) and either label it CLEARLY as a zombie or just close it to new posts.

I'm sure there are issues with Mumsnet, but they invariably respond quickly, politely and effectively if you contact them.

Which doesn't always happen with other platforms.

It's clear from this discussion that some folks really, really don't like these older threads appearing in Active at all, so we're going to think about how we can address this

Well the answer is obvious, but because, it's not want MNHQ want to hear, you're just going to plough on with it anyway. It's ok to admit you got it wrong, we all make mistakes.

We introduced this feature because a huge amount of visitors to MN (around 50%) arrive from unbranded search (ie they type query into Google and end up on a Mumsnet thread); showing similar threads improves that experience, as it makes it more likely they'll find the answer to their query - and it's being used a lot so we do think it's a useful feature.
And if any of those new users find an old thread and revive it to ask their own question they will get robustly told by older users it isn't the done thing on MN and to start their own thread. Making the experience of new users confusing and unwelcoming. Bonkers.

Actually, in fairness to MN Admins, the in-house search facility used to be pants, but it has much improved with the upgrade that was applied to the boards.

That said - this 'feature' is bumping up threads that are old, that the last post on them was several months ago and is more than a single percentage point rise in the number of zombie threads being resurrected. It was worse than an Easter Sunday here with the number of resurrected threads going on over the past few days and that because they were resurrected, they no longer appear as true zombies but they really are.

PLEASE @JustineMumsnet, see sense.
We understand that we are both the product you're selling and the consumer of the product. As the consumer, we're complaining that the product has disimproved as a result of this 'feature'. It's made the site worse, not better. I really don't care how you weight the threads, as so many others have suggested, anything that hasn't been posted on in the past 90 or even 180 days should be locked with no further posts being possible on them. That would stop the 'zombie' threads from happening. Then if someone in that magic 50% of new joiners wants to read a thread, they can, just like the rest of us who have been here longer. If they have a question, they can link the thread to their own new post in the opening message and ask their question.
As the product, if we don't like the site, we can leave. You won't have a site to sell
advertising areas on if the life blood of the site isn't there.

I don't like to cast doubt on your numbers, but you seriously are saying that the increase in zombie threads in Active increased from 3% to 4%, yet regular posters were complaining that Active was over run with Zombies?

Agree completely. I don't want to be a twat and say this is a lie but your data is not accurate, there is absolutely no way the increase was only 1%. Active was about 85% zombie threads at one point.