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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

How is outside influence of thread being handled

68 replies

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 12:15

I would like to know if mumsnet has a problem with AI coming in to threats to disrupt and influence people's opnions on particularly politics. I know it happens and mumsnet is a area of Internet that is used. There seems to be a much higher number of musk, Robinson, farage loving posts much more than I've ever seen on the years I've been here . I don't belive they all are, but is this something that is a of a concern or are you OK with the traffic?

OP posts:
myplace · 10/01/2025 13:57

No one is saying you shouldn’t ask, or report.

I’m interested in the answer too, so would like you to clarify what you want to know and ask again. If you use the quote function to reply to JoMumsnet, or @ JoMumsnet, she’ll see your question.

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 13:59

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 13:09

Where there is a company that rely on humans to interact with each other , I wanted to know if computer AI or bots are here with us? Like is the place I'm spending my time on is it all human? Or has ai or bots among us. Do u have the technology to even know this? I dont want to know what ur doing I wanted to know if u know .

I typed a response and further question including this one.

OP posts:
chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 14:00

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 13:05

I dont nessasery mean on an individual level, is there a whole network strategy that can detect when ai or bots are using mumsnet I mean like a technical thing that goes on behind the scenes?

Does mumsnet have policy on how to combat influtration of outside entries ? Is it something that they even care or think about?

Or is it just a case of traffic is traffic regardless of if its real people or not. ?

This was response

OP posts:
JanuaryCrow · 10/01/2025 14:04

Yes, it's about pattern detection as much as encouraging individual reporting.

If it's up to posters to spot patterns, then MNHQ might say so. That would be instructive.

myplace · 10/01/2025 14:04

@chicken2015 if you don’t tag Jo in the post, she’s unlikely to see it among so many others. She’ll assume she has answered your question, and is unlikely to check back.

myplace · 10/01/2025 14:05

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 14:00

This was response

Doh. Sorry. I missed you’d quoted her! Full apology.

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 14:05

myplace · 10/01/2025 14:04

@chicken2015 if you don’t tag Jo in the post, she’s unlikely to see it among so many others. She’ll assume she has answered your question, and is unlikely to check back.

I have reported the post and asked for a answer

OP posts:
EmeraldRoulette · 10/01/2025 14:08

Fishystripe · 10/01/2025 13:53

I agree with you OP. It's not about individuals disagreeing it's the industrial level of these threads that comes across like a PR campaign.

But the main factor there is that it is part of a PR campaign. That happens all across social media and did so long before AI was commonly used.

@chicken2015 and bots might be part of a PR campaign but individuals also use AI to write posts

Fishystripe · 10/01/2025 14:10

EasternStandard · 10/01/2025 13:55

Polling and support for Labour is about the same as Reform

Plus Labour has tanked generally and there’s a lot of criticism off mn

Why wouldn’t that be reflected on posts on here?

It's out of all proportion to events. We didn't have three threads started daiily about how awful the Tory Government were despite many people voting them out. This all happening at the same time as Musk who actually owns a SM platform decides he should influence who Governs in the UK.

Everyone should worry about this whoever you vote for.

LindorDoubleChoc · 10/01/2025 14:11

I think it is a good general question to ask "out in the open" OP!

Yes, yes, yes - we can all report if we think something or someone is suspect. But I'm sure there's many of us who would like a bit more information from HQ on the broader question. I for one am not happy wasting my time on chatting with information gatherers.

MadeofCoffee · 10/01/2025 15:19

As AI gets more sophisticated, some posts are becoming harder to spot. And there will be people using MN for support who may be in a vulnerable headspace and not realise they're responding to a bot! Which feels very off.

stealthsquirrelnutkin · 10/01/2025 15:22

"There seems to be a much higher number of musk, Robinson, farage loving posts much more than I've ever seen on the years I've been here ."

Have you considered that people have realised that the BBC and other "reputable" media sources have been hiding the truth? I used to trust them until they went batshit over gender identity and started to warp and misrepresent the needs and rights of ordinary old lesbians like myself.

I gradually realised that they had also been distorting the truth in other areas, keeping quiet about stories they wanted to smother, and boosting sympathetic coverage of ideologies that were at heart misogynist, and deliberately undermined all the accepted knowledge concerning child safeguarding. I came to distrust media sources that I'd previously assumed were unbiased.

I think there are is an ever growing number of people who have grown tired of being treated like mushrooms "kept in the dark and fed on manure", who have started looking elsewhere for information. I always score to the left of Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas on online political affiliation tests, but I'm now more likely to trust GB news than the BBC. That doesn't make me a bot, it just means I have adapted my behaviour patterns in response to circumstances.

So instead of convincing yourself that the change in public opinion is caused by evil right wing propaganda bots you should perhaps consider the possibility that growing numbers of people are getting very angry, because they don't like the changes they see happening in our society.

It may come as a shock, especially if you've been living in a bubble surrounded by people who have been taught not to think for themselves, but ever increasing numbers of ordinary people have had enough of being kind and bending over backwards to accommodate groups that hate and despise them.

Elon Musk buying Twitter was a game changer. Once he put a stop to the "moderation" policy that banned and silenced dissent, it turned out that the previously silent majority were sick of being silenced, when they realised they could speak out without losing their twitter accounts they started to voice their opinions, there are still people who need to remain anonymous to protect their employment, but it has become plain that an overwhelming majority are not in favour of the drastic changes that have been forced on them without their consent.

It may astound you that decent ordinary people have had enough and are fighting back against having their kindness taken advantage of, but that doesn't make them bots. It just indicates you need to expand your horizons, and stop automatically dismissing anyone who doesn't share your opinions.

tailinthejam · 10/01/2025 15:31

@chicken2015 in the nicest possible way, do you seriously believe that MNHQ is ever going to come onto a thread and make public the things they are doing behind the scenes to combat online threats?

Why on Earth would they want to tell everyone what their security measures are? It would be a bonkers thing to do.

KnightsTemplar00 · 10/01/2025 16:09

At a guess who's really who, as along as a good debate is had then to me that's the priority, the way I usually know if its bot is if they answer the thread topic or title precisely and then if it gets more advanced or the conversations advance from the original op, then I presume its humans ,

That said sometimes it's a guess too.

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 16:14

tailinthejam · 10/01/2025 15:31

@chicken2015 in the nicest possible way, do you seriously believe that MNHQ is ever going to come onto a thread and make public the things they are doing behind the scenes to combat online threats?

Why on Earth would they want to tell everyone what their security measures are? It would be a bonkers thing to do.

If u read my response u would see I didn't actually ask them to! I asked them if I'm speaking only to humans ? Which is a fair question. It doesn't matter what the ai bots are saying it should worry everyone that they could be potentially speaking to computer generated ai and not an actual human!

OP posts:
chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 16:20

stealthsquirrelnutkin · 10/01/2025 15:22

"There seems to be a much higher number of musk, Robinson, farage loving posts much more than I've ever seen on the years I've been here ."

Have you considered that people have realised that the BBC and other "reputable" media sources have been hiding the truth? I used to trust them until they went batshit over gender identity and started to warp and misrepresent the needs and rights of ordinary old lesbians like myself.

I gradually realised that they had also been distorting the truth in other areas, keeping quiet about stories they wanted to smother, and boosting sympathetic coverage of ideologies that were at heart misogynist, and deliberately undermined all the accepted knowledge concerning child safeguarding. I came to distrust media sources that I'd previously assumed were unbiased.

I think there are is an ever growing number of people who have grown tired of being treated like mushrooms "kept in the dark and fed on manure", who have started looking elsewhere for information. I always score to the left of Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas on online political affiliation tests, but I'm now more likely to trust GB news than the BBC. That doesn't make me a bot, it just means I have adapted my behaviour patterns in response to circumstances.

So instead of convincing yourself that the change in public opinion is caused by evil right wing propaganda bots you should perhaps consider the possibility that growing numbers of people are getting very angry, because they don't like the changes they see happening in our society.

It may come as a shock, especially if you've been living in a bubble surrounded by people who have been taught not to think for themselves, but ever increasing numbers of ordinary people have had enough of being kind and bending over backwards to accommodate groups that hate and despise them.

Elon Musk buying Twitter was a game changer. Once he put a stop to the "moderation" policy that banned and silenced dissent, it turned out that the previously silent majority were sick of being silenced, when they realised they could speak out without losing their twitter accounts they started to voice their opinions, there are still people who need to remain anonymous to protect their employment, but it has become plain that an overwhelming majority are not in favour of the drastic changes that have been forced on them without their consent.

It may astound you that decent ordinary people have had enough and are fighting back against having their kindness taken advantage of, but that doesn't make them bots. It just indicates you need to expand your horizons, and stop automatically dismissing anyone who doesn't share your opinions.

Where did u find out that new soures are hiding the truth? Who told u? Do u consider that all the news u now follow could be equally as bias as what u used to follow and now instead of being told one 'narrative 'ur just been shown a different 'narrative'? No new organisation should be trusted 100% . There is bias in all information and its up to us to use critical thinking.
The irony of mentioning musk who seems to campaign free speech but seems to delete or silence anyone he disagrees with!
Also I have a right wing reform supporter friend and the amount of times she times me she cannot read what I've shown her as she only follows 'right wing ' sources is stuipd like the way to manipulate a group is to control their information which is exactly what telling a group to only listen to them does!

OP posts:
ThisAintNoPartyThisAintNoDisco · 10/01/2025 16:21

stealthsquirrelnutkin · 10/01/2025 15:22

"There seems to be a much higher number of musk, Robinson, farage loving posts much more than I've ever seen on the years I've been here ."

Have you considered that people have realised that the BBC and other "reputable" media sources have been hiding the truth? I used to trust them until they went batshit over gender identity and started to warp and misrepresent the needs and rights of ordinary old lesbians like myself.

I gradually realised that they had also been distorting the truth in other areas, keeping quiet about stories they wanted to smother, and boosting sympathetic coverage of ideologies that were at heart misogynist, and deliberately undermined all the accepted knowledge concerning child safeguarding. I came to distrust media sources that I'd previously assumed were unbiased.

I think there are is an ever growing number of people who have grown tired of being treated like mushrooms "kept in the dark and fed on manure", who have started looking elsewhere for information. I always score to the left of Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas on online political affiliation tests, but I'm now more likely to trust GB news than the BBC. That doesn't make me a bot, it just means I have adapted my behaviour patterns in response to circumstances.

So instead of convincing yourself that the change in public opinion is caused by evil right wing propaganda bots you should perhaps consider the possibility that growing numbers of people are getting very angry, because they don't like the changes they see happening in our society.

It may come as a shock, especially if you've been living in a bubble surrounded by people who have been taught not to think for themselves, but ever increasing numbers of ordinary people have had enough of being kind and bending over backwards to accommodate groups that hate and despise them.

Elon Musk buying Twitter was a game changer. Once he put a stop to the "moderation" policy that banned and silenced dissent, it turned out that the previously silent majority were sick of being silenced, when they realised they could speak out without losing their twitter accounts they started to voice their opinions, there are still people who need to remain anonymous to protect their employment, but it has become plain that an overwhelming majority are not in favour of the drastic changes that have been forced on them without their consent.

It may astound you that decent ordinary people have had enough and are fighting back against having their kindness taken advantage of, but that doesn't make them bots. It just indicates you need to expand your horizons, and stop automatically dismissing anyone who doesn't share your opinions.

Agree absolutely with this excellent post.

Mumsnet used to be such an echo chamber, but things have clearly changed-not anymore.

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 16:25

stealthsquirrelnutkin · 10/01/2025 15:22

"There seems to be a much higher number of musk, Robinson, farage loving posts much more than I've ever seen on the years I've been here ."

Have you considered that people have realised that the BBC and other "reputable" media sources have been hiding the truth? I used to trust them until they went batshit over gender identity and started to warp and misrepresent the needs and rights of ordinary old lesbians like myself.

I gradually realised that they had also been distorting the truth in other areas, keeping quiet about stories they wanted to smother, and boosting sympathetic coverage of ideologies that were at heart misogynist, and deliberately undermined all the accepted knowledge concerning child safeguarding. I came to distrust media sources that I'd previously assumed were unbiased.

I think there are is an ever growing number of people who have grown tired of being treated like mushrooms "kept in the dark and fed on manure", who have started looking elsewhere for information. I always score to the left of Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas on online political affiliation tests, but I'm now more likely to trust GB news than the BBC. That doesn't make me a bot, it just means I have adapted my behaviour patterns in response to circumstances.

So instead of convincing yourself that the change in public opinion is caused by evil right wing propaganda bots you should perhaps consider the possibility that growing numbers of people are getting very angry, because they don't like the changes they see happening in our society.

It may come as a shock, especially if you've been living in a bubble surrounded by people who have been taught not to think for themselves, but ever increasing numbers of ordinary people have had enough of being kind and bending over backwards to accommodate groups that hate and despise them.

Elon Musk buying Twitter was a game changer. Once he put a stop to the "moderation" policy that banned and silenced dissent, it turned out that the previously silent majority were sick of being silenced, when they realised they could speak out without losing their twitter accounts they started to voice their opinions, there are still people who need to remain anonymous to protect their employment, but it has become plain that an overwhelming majority are not in favour of the drastic changes that have been forced on them without their consent.

It may astound you that decent ordinary people have had enough and are fighting back against having their kindness taken advantage of, but that doesn't make them bots. It just indicates you need to expand your horizons, and stop automatically dismissing anyone who doesn't share your opinions.

Also asking for some clarity on if I'm talking to computer generated AI shouldn't be as controversial as it seems like! I would have hoped everyone would be concerned at possibly that we r not replying to humans!

OP posts:
JasonTindallsTan · 10/01/2025 16:54

This thread is odd. How has it become a right v left wing debate?! AI and misinformation is a huge problem online, I think it’s a completely valid question and I’d be interested in the answer. Obviously not to a granular detail type situation but a ‘yep we’re aware there is an issue and aside from encouraging regular posters to report we have various ways of identifying and combatting the issue’ would be sufficient.

KnightsTemplar00 · 10/01/2025 17:58

After re reading the ops questions on here overall the users have to be human to set up an account etc however thats not to say some users dont use Ai to increase their responses to threads or to try to give what they presume is a better quality answer

BobnLen · 10/01/2025 18:04

JasonTindallsTan · 10/01/2025 16:54

This thread is odd. How has it become a right v left wing debate?! AI and misinformation is a huge problem online, I think it’s a completely valid question and I’d be interested in the answer. Obviously not to a granular detail type situation but a ‘yep we’re aware there is an issue and aside from encouraging regular posters to report we have various ways of identifying and combatting the issue’ would be sufficient.

Because OP specifically said, Musk, Robinson and Farage in her post, which rather sets the scene doesn't it

There seems to be a much higher number of musk, Robinson, farage loving posts much more than I've ever seen on the years I've been here . I don't belive they all are, but is this something that is a of a concern or are you OK with the traffic?

chicken2015 · 10/01/2025 18:17

BobnLen · 10/01/2025 18:04

Because OP specifically said, Musk, Robinson and Farage in her post, which rather sets the scene doesn't it

There seems to be a much higher number of musk, Robinson, farage loving posts much more than I've ever seen on the years I've been here . I don't belive they all are, but is this something that is a of a concern or are you OK with the traffic?

So that is my reasoning for asking the question but to be honest it doesn't need a reason for the question to be asked! People seem to have pushed their toys of the pram due to my reasoning but seem to completely miss the fact it's a valid question!

OP posts:
SereneCapybara · 10/01/2025 18:21

BobnLen · 10/01/2025 13:13

I'm alarmed at the amount of bot hunting that goes on, where posters are accused of being bots, really it's the same as troll hunting, I do report but loads just keep popping up

So, do you think posters should just keep quiet if they suspect bots? I have seen lots of AI generated posts recently. (Or maybe generated by trolls using Chat GPT.) Imo, the best thing to do if you suspect an AI post is not to engage.

BobnLen · 10/01/2025 18:27

SereneCapybara · 10/01/2025 18:21

So, do you think posters should just keep quiet if they suspect bots? I have seen lots of AI generated posts recently. (Or maybe generated by trolls using Chat GPT.) Imo, the best thing to do if you suspect an AI post is not to engage.

They should report them of course but instead there is constant bot hunting on some threads which is similar to troll hunting.

Dreamingofgoldfinchlane · 10/01/2025 18:29

Fishystripe · 10/01/2025 14:10

It's out of all proportion to events. We didn't have three threads started daiily about how awful the Tory Government were despite many people voting them out. This all happening at the same time as Musk who actually owns a SM platform decides he should influence who Governs in the UK.

Everyone should worry about this whoever you vote for.

There were daily threads about how awful the Tories were. It's completely understandable that this will be the same for Labour.

Swipe left for the next trending thread