Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

Original poster

FAO Night Watch: please stop letting Mumsnet exploit you!

150 replies

myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 08:25

Mumsnet is a business, not a charity or voluntary organisation. There is no justification for using volunteers.

I urge the Night Watch to rethink their choice to help out a commercial business who should be using paid moderators.

OP posts:
Semiramide · 03/02/2025 09:42

myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 09:24

Another stupid thing is that because the Night Watch are volunteers, I don’t think they actually see reports made overnight. People need to know they exist and go to the Night Watch section of Mumsnet to flag things to them - but that’s not explained to people using the report function out of hours.

For some reason quote didn't post.

Semiramide · 03/02/2025 09:43

Semiramide · 03/02/2025 09:41

Precisely!!

Also, what is MN's definition of 'overnight'?

For how many hours - from x pm to y am - is the site staffed by volunteers only?

Sigh...

Original poster
myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 09:47

BarbaraHoward · 03/02/2025 09:38

I believe there is no one on the payroll overnight UK time.

Show quote history

Not even a safeguarding lead on-call? That’s even worse than I thought.

OP posts:
BarbaraHoward · 03/02/2025 09:57

myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 09:47

Not even a safeguarding lead on-call? That’s even worse than I thought.

Edited
Show quote history

No I don't believe so, and last night would seem to back that up.

BarbaraHoward · 03/02/2025 09:58

AlbertCamusflage · 03/02/2025 09:40

It is amazing that they still use volunteers. The system dates from a time when MN was smaller and moderation was primarily about moderating community members when they broke site rules. It kind-of made sense that people who were themselves community members were in a good position to make temporary holding responses to community difficulties.

MN isn't a community anymore, it is a huge aggregation of posters unknown to each other. Additionally, the direction of the internet means that moderation is primarily about removing externally generated harms. Predominantly automated spam but also other and more terrible abuses.

I'm pretty amazed to learn today that volunteers are still relied on. I wonder why on earth people take on this role. I could see the appeal when MN was a community. It was just the same kind of pro-social behaviour that you see in real-life communities -- like being the one who bothers to tidy the toy cupboard at a toddler group. But it is odd now.

Open to correction here, but the night watch is a relatively recent introduction (might be showing my age there). There used to be no moderation overnight at all, and it was only as the site grew that they realised they needed something and introduced the volunteers. It was called out as inadequate from the get go.

Whatsinanamehey · 03/02/2025 10:03

myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 08:25

Mumsnet is a business, not a charity or voluntary organisation. There is no justification for using volunteers.

I urge the Night Watch to rethink their choice to help out a commercial business who should be using paid moderators.

Agreed as last night was terrible. I felt really bad for the night watch and the pressure they must have been under.

I would like to know what safeguards mumsnet has In place in regards to the shit show from last night?

Whatsinanamehey · 03/02/2025 10:04

BarbaraHoward · 03/02/2025 09:58

Open to correction here, but the night watch is a relatively recent introduction (might be showing my age there). There used to be no moderation overnight at all, and it was only as the site grew that they realised they needed something and introduced the volunteers. It was called out as inadequate from the get go.

Show quote history

The oldest thread on the night watch board dates back to 2014.

BarbaraHoward · 03/02/2025 10:05

Whatsinanamehey · 03/02/2025 10:04

The oldest thread on the night watch board dates back to 2014.

Show quote history

That's relatively recent (although yes, feeling my age), MN was already massive in 2014. It was post penis beaker for a start.

AlbertCamusflage · 03/02/2025 10:26

BarbaraHoward · 03/02/2025 09:58

Open to correction here, but the night watch is a relatively recent introduction (might be showing my age there). There used to be no moderation overnight at all, and it was only as the site grew that they realised they needed something and introduced the volunteers. It was called out as inadequate from the get go.

Show quote history

Depends what you mean by relatively recent, I guess. You are right that it wasn't there from the beginning, but in my recollection the night watch was introduced quite a long time ago, when MN was still extremely different from what it is now. At a guess I would say that it was at least a dozen years ago.

EDIT: Apols, I see that a PP has pinned it down to 10 years ago. The site was already getting big, but it was nothing like now

WorriedRelative · 03/02/2025 11:40

myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 09:47

Not even a safeguarding lead on-call? That’s even worse than I thought.

Edited
Show quote history

And seemingly no ability to escalate to paid staff in an emergency.

JoannaGroats · 03/02/2025 11:44

myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 09:23

Just click on Site Stuff and read previous threads.

Show quote history

Well why can’t you just say what happened instead of making vague allusions?

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 03/02/2025 11:46

JoannaGroats · 03/02/2025 11:44

Well why can’t you just say what happened instead of making vague allusions?

Show quote history

Somebody phosted numerous photographs of children being sexually abused.

I didn't see it thank God but it's not hard to figure out.

ladygindiva · 03/02/2025 11:50

I didn't realise this was how moderation was operated on Mumsnet and I've been a user 8 years. Disgusted tbh and leaving. Just making my feelings known before I sign off. Shame such a great site with fabulous people and resources on has been ruined by basically greed.

Original poster
myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 12:25

JoannaGroats · 03/02/2025 11:44

Well why can’t you just say what happened instead of making vague allusions?

Show quote history

Because I don’t want to think about it and you can find out for yourself?

OP posts:
JoannaGroats · 03/02/2025 13:48

But you’ve made a thread about it, ensuring everyone will ask?

FumingTRex · 03/02/2025 13:53

Completely agree and why hasnt there been a statement from MN? If they dont want to pay for moderators overnight then they should turn off or majorly restrict posting ability.

WilmaTitsDrop · 03/02/2025 13:53

I'd love to see a 'AMA' from a Night Watch Volunteer!

Original poster
myotherusernamesarebetter · 03/02/2025 14:21

JoannaGroats · 03/02/2025 13:48

But you’ve made a thread about it, ensuring everyone will ask?

A thread starting with ‘FAO Night Watch’, clearly aimed at them.

OP posts:
JoannaGroats · 03/02/2025 15:25

Unfortunately you can’t police who will look at and respond to a thread. It wouldn’t have taken much to just explain when asked.

AlbertCamusflage · 03/02/2025 15:33

Goodness, Joanna. No one owes you an explanation. And it was easy enough to work out from the many threads in site stuff.

JoannaGroats · 03/02/2025 15:50

AlbertCamusflage · 03/02/2025 15:33

Goodness, Joanna. No one owes you an explanation. And it was easy enough to work out from the many threads in site stuff.

But why make people work it out when you could just say? Why the vagueness?

Of course nobody “owes” me or anyone else an explanation, but it’s simply common sense to make clear what your thread is about. I really don’t think I’ve asked for anything outlandish here.

tonyhawks23 · 03/02/2025 16:21

There should have been someone working who could shut the whole site down immediately last night and got the police involved when it happened, not hours later. Moving forward photos should also have to be oked by by moderator before they go live. Hopefully this will now change.

notatinydancer · 03/02/2025 16:26

tonyhawks23 · 03/02/2025 16:21

There should have been someone working who could shut the whole site down immediately last night and got the police involved when it happened, not hours later. Moving forward photos should also have to be oked by by moderator before they go live. Hopefully this will now change.

Absolutely. Unbelievable they had to wait till morning so a staff member could report to police

Bodenne · 03/02/2025 16:29

What happened last night?

CurlewKate · 03/02/2025 16:40

Pretty sure Night Watch has been around for longer than 10 years. My first stint on Mumsnet was in around 2006 I think and it was in place then.......