Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Laugh reaction

187 replies

Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 16:12

I know when MN introduced the reaction button which included the Laugh emoji a lot of posters weren't happy about it. And there have been various comments by posters about its misuse.

It is just being used so commonly now to mock and deride serious comments that are in no way funny. That can no way be interpreted as light hearted.

It would appear to be being used to try and drive posters off threads. And the impression I get is that it's actually often certain posters ganging up together to try and silence people who don't agree with them.

I think MN having guidelines for posters to stick to civilised responses to other posters is being undermined because they have given those who are minded to be unpleasant to other posters the perfect tool to be nasty to them without having to verbalise anything and risk getting their post removed.

I'm failing to see any benefit in providing the laugh emoji reaction when it's principal use now is to upset and drive away genuine posters.

I don't think it was a good idea in the first place and I would like to see MN remove this reaction option.

OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 06/05/2025 20:55

Agree. I've always felt it's really odd and a bit pointless that the reaction emojis are the way they are on Mumsnet. Either have them or don't have them, but don't half have them.

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 06/05/2025 21:48

BIWI · 06/05/2025 19:49

So why post then @BeNiceWhenItsFinished? How nice for you that it doesn’t bother you. When it clearly does bother others. Hmm

It's always useful to have a balanced view with a variety of opinions, don't you think? This is a discussion forum, after all...
🙂

BIWI · 06/05/2025 22:07

Not when it’s a pointless contribution.

CarpetKnees · 06/05/2025 22:13

BIWI · 06/05/2025 19:49

So why post then @BeNiceWhenItsFinished? How nice for you that it doesn’t bother you. When it clearly does bother others. Hmm

It is a valid point.

Much earlier in the thread, people have pointed out that is you are not able to ignore or roll your eyes at a stranger on the internet doing something you don't agree with, then you probably aren't in the best place to be posting on public forums on the internet.

LittleGreenDragons · 06/05/2025 22:30

CarpetKnees · 06/05/2025 22:13

It is a valid point.

Much earlier in the thread, people have pointed out that is you are not able to ignore or roll your eyes at a stranger on the internet doing something you don't agree with, then you probably aren't in the best place to be posting on public forums on the internet.

Edited
Show quote history

Mumsnet have sections for Bereavement, Divorce and Relationships amongst others. All are used by people who aren't in the best place but are seeking support and advice, are you trying to suggest they shouldn't be here? I have had the laugh emoji on Relationship posts where I have been trying to support the OP, including on ones where I've posted links to Women's Aid or The Freedom Programme. There's nothing funny or amusing about either of those and yet some twat thinks it's great fun to do the laugh reaction.

CarpetKnees · 06/05/2025 22:42

No, not suggesting that at all.

I have always seen a huge amount of support on those boards.

I'm sorry you seem not to have.

SirChenjins · 07/05/2025 06:27

CarpetKnees · 06/05/2025 22:42

No, not suggesting that at all.

I have always seen a huge amount of support on those boards.

I'm sorry you seem not to have.

But you are (indirectly) suggesting that - because the laughter emoji is used by posters on those threads. It’s been suggested on other threads that the emoji function be removed on certain threads but MN haven’t done that.

You will only have seen the supportive posts because you won’t see anyone dishing out a 😆 - that’s the whole point.

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 07/05/2025 14:56

BIWI · 06/05/2025 22:07

Not when it’s a pointless contribution.

It is not a pointless contribution at all. This thread is seeking opinions about the laugh icon, and I posted my opinion, which presumably differs from yours. Since MNHQ may well read threads such as this one and form policy based on them, it only makes sense for everyone to have their say, whatever their point of view.

My view on any given topic is no less valid than yours.

I get emails telling me that people have reacted to posts I've made, but it appears that unlike many posters, I don't care enough to go and check what those reactions are. If anyone is likely to be offended or upset by reactions, then the issue is easily avoided. Just don't look. And that is why I don't think the laugh reaction is a problem.

SirChenjins · 07/05/2025 15:00

You don't have to check your emails - the emoji shows on your post. I've just given you a laughter emoji so you can see what I mean. No-one else will be able to see it though.

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 07/05/2025 15:04

SirChenjins · 07/05/2025 15:00

You don't have to check your emails - the emoji shows on your post. I've just given you a laughter emoji so you can see what I mean. No-one else will be able to see it though.

Edited

Yes, but I don't look back over my own previous posts in order to see whether there are any reactions to them.

SirChenjins · 07/05/2025 15:10

You'll see them on the most recent one/s though. If you were to start a thread for advice the chances are you would be following the replies and you would see all the emojis someone has left you.

HoppingPavlova · 07/05/2025 15:32

I'm currently on a thread on Chat where multiple posters are using the laugh emoji to mock posts

Some people post absolutely ridiculous preposterous things here though. So, I guess people assume they have come here for that sort of attention, as it’s sometimes hard to believe someone could actually be that dense or completely lack any self-awareness, so they are being deliberately goady. Any attention is better than none for some people, and posting ridiculous shit is their way of doing it. In those cases, it’s no different, to looking at someone in physical life, and giving a laugh and saying ‘good lord, Sharon, pull your neck in, don’t be so ridiculous’, or telling them their thought processes are not normal and they may be best to seek assistance if that is the case.

SirChenjins · 07/05/2025 15:41

Bu that's not always the case, far from it - as been explained here and on other threads about this.

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 07/05/2025 16:40

SirChenjins · 07/05/2025 15:10

You'll see them on the most recent one/s though. If you were to start a thread for advice the chances are you would be following the replies and you would see all the emojis someone has left you.

Having thought about it, I am inclined to think that publicly visible reactions would be better than those only visible to the person who posted the comment. I agree that if someone is posting on a sensitive topic, it could be distressing to see that people are laughing at you. As I already mentioned, the issue hasn't affected me personally though.

BIWI · 07/05/2025 17:18

Having thought about it, I am inclined to think that publicly visible reactions would be better than those only visible to the person who posted the comment.

Which can already be done, using the various emojis we have available to us!

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 07/05/2025 17:28

Oh god can you imagine the threads though? Hurt feelings about not getting any likes on your post or being the only one the op didn't click the thank you button for?
It would all end in tears and tantrums.
Better to stay private. Or be removed. There's not really much of a point to them.

JaneJeffer · 17/05/2025 15:37

According to MN on Trust Pilot they were going to remove the laugh emoji but I’ve just had someone taking the piss with it again @LilyMumsnet

Laugh reaction
MNHQ
BeckyAMumsnet · 17/05/2025 16:44

Hello @JaneJeffer that's correct - we are going to remove the emoji for the reasons outlined on this thread. We'll post an update here once it's gone and in the meantime, please report any misuse to us.

JaneJeffer · 17/05/2025 17:05

Thanks @BeckyAMumsnet

AnSolas · 17/05/2025 17:36

👏👏👏

Good choice @BeckyAMumsnet

but its sad that it has to be done.

ilovesooty · 17/05/2025 19:48

Good
I reported someone this week who used it to mock one of my posts (they did it anonymously too) and MNHQ dealt with it very quickly.

BustingBaoBun · 17/05/2025 19:51

Good to hear. Someone followed me around doing the laugh emoji on loads of my posts and I challenged them. They told me they could do it, so they will

Zonder · 18/05/2025 08:14

BeckyAMumsnet · 17/05/2025 16:44

Hello @JaneJeffer that's correct - we are going to remove the emoji for the reasons outlined on this thread. We'll post an update here once it's gone and in the meantime, please report any misuse to us.

Could you give a more sensible disagree emoji? If there was a simple thumbs down or head shake I think people could show their disagreement without resorting to mocking or necessarily adding negative comments.

Sometimes I just want to say I disagree with you to someone without making a comment and starting an argument.

All that's left now is emojis to mark agreement and sometimes it's good for a poster to know people don't all agree without it descending into quarrels.

RubyRubyRubyRubyAhAhAhAhAhAaaah · 18/05/2025 08:20

I'd rather people commented/made their point instead of a thumbs down if they don't agree with someone tbh.

BIWI · 18/05/2025 08:28

I agree @RubyRubyRubyRubyAhAhAhAhAhAaaahany disagreement should be made openly. Preferably with specific reasons

Swipe left for the next trending thread