Ageism

Thanks for your questions. We assess each report on its merits, but generally, we set a high bar for deletion when it comes to commonly used language - terms like "snowflake," or "boomer", for example. For a while now we've noticed an increasing number of reports calling for the removal of any post that mentions age or generational differences. If we were to take that route, a huge number of discussions would disappear. We do remove posts where age-related language crosses the line into personal attacks or strays into misogyny - such as dismissing someone’s opinion purely because of their age or using age as an insult. Sometimes, the wording of a post might be a little clumsy, but we believe it’s possible to highlight that in a constructive way while still engaging with the substance of the discussion.

We know we won’t always get it right for everyone, but Mumsnet thrives because of the wisdom and generosity of its users, and taking a heavy-handed approach to moderation simply isn’t the answer here. As always, report your concerns to us and we will be happy to discuss any decisions you feel are wrong.

Talk