UPDATE FROM MNHQ - new Hidden Gratitude feature

[YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet]

Today we’re launching a new feature called Hidden Gratitude. We’ve had many requests over the years for a like button on Mumsnet but shared concerns that some have expressed about it being a bit reductive and possibly turning discussions into a popularity contest.

Nonetheless, we think it would be nice to be able to thank posters for a particularly helpful or generous post. Hidden Gratitude is an easy way to show appreciation but as the name suggests, there will be no publicly visible 'like' count, only the user who has been given thanks can see it.

All you need to do is hit the “thanks” icon on the post you want to appreciate. The poster will receive a notification which will let them know who has “thanked” them. That’s it!

And, before you ask - at the time of writing we have no plans to introduce a hidden ingratitude button…

If you click on the thanks button on your post when it has a number next to it, it will tell you which posters have thanked you.

@YourNameGoesHere thanks, now you have thanked me , I can see it.

No worries. I don't see how it's going to be much use though as I doubt many posters will actually click thanks even if they feel the post was useful and even if they do click thanks realistically how many posters will regularly go back and check their posts to see if anyone liked it?

You can only thank once, even if you change your username and it will show as the username at the point of giving thanks.

It'll show in your notifications and if you click on the Thanks icon, you'll see who thanked you.

We're in the process of rebuilding the mobile apps so they'll have the same features as the website. As mentioned above, it's a huge job and so is taking a while. Thanks for your patience - we know it's frustrating.

I still want a 'like' button and I warn you all the tide is turning, it's only a matter of time 😁😁

Every time it's discussed it seems there are fewer objections.

I don't think it'll result in threads getting fewer replies though. Usually if I open a thread and the top few posts answer the question or contain something I agree with, I'll move on. I'm sure many do too especially as many MNetters seem to be very vocal about hating posts that contain nothing but quotes with the word "this" (which incidentally adds nothing to the thread either).

I hope not. I've been here for many years but I don't think I'd stay at a site that promotes a popularity contest.

Just to check, is that the name you're currently logged in as, or the name you're using on the thread? So if I'm currently using KimKardashian as my day to day name, but I press Thanks on the long running Pokémon Go thread where I always use this name, will I show up as Kim or Kevin?

I actually gave some hidden gratitude to this post 🤣

What name did my like show up as? I'm currently logged on as "ArcticForest" but was "AConnoisseurOfBiscuits" earlier on this thread.

(I liked you while logged on as "ArcticForest" for clarity)

(I liked you while logged on as "ArcticForest" for clarity)

I can feel a friendship developing 💕

I thought name changing on a thread had been outlawed!

Arctic Forest

I know a way around it,a way to reset the tracker. Does not involve different login or vpn, too

A) no it hasn't been outlawed. The site now automatically defaults you to the name you've previously used on that thread (v useful) but you can override it.
B) that's not what I'm talking about - I'm taking about when you're using a name on one thread which is different to your default one. So you might be logged in as KimK, and use that for new posts on random AIBUs, but you always post on Coronation St threads as EnaSharples, and you use that automatically on those threads without changing your current default name.

So confusing

Sockpuppeting is frowned upon and deleted as a Bad Thing. But for the purposes of experimentation on this thread, I think it would be harsh to be deleted.

Ooh seems like the like shows up with the username you're logged on with then! Think I might prefer it the other way around though but I'm ok with this too.

Sock puppetting to back yourself up is very bad form indeed and potentially a banning offence.

Changing names because something on the thread gives you a brilliant idea for a new name change and you then want to come back and show it off is absolutely fine. Ditto if you wanted to check how something worked on a Site Stuff thread.

Changing names because half way through a thread you suddenly realise that you have something really useful to add, but saying it under your normal name would out you as being a chartered accountant/ from Stoke Newington so you do a quick change for anonymity purposes is a grey area.

Why not put the thanks button where they quote one has been hidden?
Or in place of share which I have never used and never will?
Or just stop messing about with it all and adding stuff we don't need because other sites have it. It's not FaceArse after all?

A hidden gratitude button is a lovely idea (nice name for it too). I'm sure I will find it really beneficial to have this easy opportunity to express positive thought/emotion. I had to leave Twitter because it is soooo easy to use it to express negative thought and emotion, which entrenches a kind of embittered righteous hostility. Returning to MN, as a Twitter substitute, I have found myself quite prone to dashing off mildly hostile/critical Tweet-like replies which leave me feeling riled up. I've also seen how many other posters reply in the same reflexively negative way, surely influenced by trends across social media.

Now it will be possible for me and other MNers to do more to nurture our nicer selves, and make ourselves happier in the process.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I'm another person who would prefer it if my 'hidden gratitude' didn't spark a notification email. I'd worry that it would be a hassle for the recipient and would prefer it if she could just see the gratitude-count piling up on her post.

So if you name change for a certain thread but were logged in as a different name you could out yourself by thanking someone then?

I know. It's going to be nauseating.

And as anyone can claim they've 'had lots of thanks already for my post', it sets the scene for rollings of eyes, 'I don't believe yous', and victimhood claims on some of the more volatile and immature threads/boards.

I suppose it might settle down. Personally, I agree that subversion is the way to go. Just keep thinking of it as a sarcastic handclap.