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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MN Ads disguised as normal threads

16 replies

NotConcerning · 13/03/2023 10:31

I included this gripe in my post on the thread about all the annoyingly intrusive Ads that obstruct content - thought it deserved one of its own.

I hate it when MN Ads are included on boards but are made to look like an ordinary thread. I frequent certain boards where I read most threads so I always look out for ones that are still blue which means I haven’t clicked on them yet - the ones I’ve clicked on already are purple/pink. I HATE it when I go on a board and see some unclicked-on threads and think there’s some new content and then realise it’s just a sneaky disguised MN ‘thread’ about Pampers nappies or Boden ‘must have items’. There used to be the odd one of these but now there are loads interspersed amongst the boards.

It’s particularly galling to have these ‘chirpy’ threads interspersed on a board that’s dealing with heavy content. So, for instance, the Feminism boards - I’m reading about violence against women or menopause issues and then there’s a post saying ‘Getting Married in 2 weeks and no dress!” or ‘What exactly is combination feeding?’ I can’t believe no one else is annoyed about these. I wish they were just consigned to Chat or AIBU or boards that are appropriate rather than stripped wholesale across all or most boards

I understand MN wanting to get people to fill out the Census and advertise that across all its boards but the other random stuff is annoying me more than having to navigate past all the huge, annoying, flashing Adverts (almost!). I appreciate that there is a small ‘AD’ added on to the end but at first glance this can be missed. If you’re going to insist on doing this can you at least make them more obvious so that they don’t look like new content on the board - put them all in caps or in another typeface/colour? Please?!

OP posts:
aineoverseas · 13/03/2023 10:57

If you install an ad blocker they will be blank. Problem solved.

MN Ads disguised as normal threads
ShiningAsAlways · 13/03/2023 10:57

I completely agree, I'm also really irritated by them.

SamanthaVimes · 13/03/2023 12:07

I don’t normally hang out on site stuff but this I what I came here to moan about, the click baity titles made to seem like they’re real threads really annoy me!

aineoverseas · 13/03/2023 12:08

@SamanthaVimes seriously just install an adblocker. ALL the ads disappear include the ones that look like topics.

HebeMumsnet · 13/03/2023 12:23

Hi there @NotConcerning. Thank you for getting in touch about this. We will pass your thoughts on.

SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 13/03/2023 12:29

I don't feel annoyed about this as they are under the heading 'promoted by Mumsnet' clearly visible without clicking into the thread. It isn't hard to look at this, especially if the title is unrelated to the board you're on as it is easy to see and glance at the category.
Mumsnet is a business at the end of the day and although I like they are providing a social service (of sorts) we can't take that purpose for granted as if they weren't a business first they wouldn't be here at all. That's how I feel about it anyway.

DappledThings · 13/03/2023 12:29

Totally agree with OP.

NotConcerning · 13/03/2023 15:16

SoCunning you are mistaken. There is no ‘Promoted by Mumsnet’ heading ‘clearly visible’. That’s the whole point I’m making… So in the example I attach, ‘Help me find a wedding dress’ is sitting incongruously (in my opinion anyway)directly underneath a post about sex-selective abortion, on the Feminist Chat board. Do you see what I mean?

MN Ads disguised as normal threads
OP posts:
SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 13/03/2023 15:18

Oohhhh, I get a different view! I wonder why it looks different to me

TeaandHobnobs · 13/03/2023 15:20

I agree OP - this has been irritating me a lot, particularly when the wording is quite cunningly targeted to look like a thread, and sits quite jarringly against other threads on certain boards.
off to find an ad-blocker…

SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 13/03/2023 15:21

Actually, on my favourite boards it looks like that, but the 'AD' suffix tells me it's not a normal thread. It's when I'm in active it has the subject heading 'promoted by Mumsnet'.

Schmutter · 13/03/2023 15:22

I agree OP - really irritating and sneaky.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 13/03/2023 15:24

This one, about the wedding dress. Who are they being paid to advertise? Seems quite dishonest, somehow. I don’t think mumsnet even bothers to hide their lack of scruples nowadays.

MN Ads disguised as normal threads
Yalz · 13/03/2023 16:53

I also agree. Irritating and sneaky.

FlappyFish · 13/03/2023 16:59

The poster of the dress thread said it wasn’t. I wonder if all the links to dresses made it flag as an ad or something? I clicked on it by mistake

PercyPhelps · 13/03/2023 17:06

Can anyone recommend an ad blocker?

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