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Original poster

Laugh reaction

5 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.

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MNHQ

LilyMumsnet · 28/04/2025 16:59

Hi OP

Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns about reactions. Just to reassure you, we treat misuse of reactions in the same way we treat posts that break our Talk Guidelines - if a reaction is being used to bully, mock, or harass, it's against our talk guidelines.

If you see reactions being used in this way, please do report it to us and we'll take a look.We do keep all feedback like yours under review and regularly assess the tools we offer on the site.

For now, we hope the reporting function gives everyone a way to flag behaviour that doesn't meet our standards, whether that's through posts or reactions.

Thanks again for raising this.

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.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 02/06/2025 11:58

Hi all - just a quick note to say we’ve now removed the laugh reaction, as it was increasingly being used to poke fun at other posters, which is not quite the spirit we’re aiming for. It's worth saying that most of you were using it in good faith but we want to keep the boards a helpful and supportive place for MNers and reactions that come across as mocking don’t really help with that.

This is why we can’t have nice things - and thanks so much for all your feedback.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 02/06/2025 12:23

Thanks @eatfigs, we'll consider all suggestions. Should also add that we're not removing the laughs on previous posts, in case anyone was confused.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 02/06/2025 13:51

BIWI · 02/06/2025 13:29

@C8H10N4O2 given that this was first raised as an issue some time ago now, I think it’s fair to say that MNHQ have probably been monitoring how it’s been being used. There was also a discussion some time ago about how to deal with posters who were misusing it, and MNHQ then posted that such misuse was against Talk Guidelines, and so those posters should be reported to them, and they’d be dealt with.

I’m guessing, therefore, that there has been sufficient misuse of the reaction that they felt it best to remove it.

(But maybe someone from MNHQ/ @BeckyAMumsnet can confirm that?)

Hi @BIWI , yes, this is it. We’ve been monitoring how the laugh reaction was being used for a while, and while it’s true that most posters used it in good faith, there were enough instances where it was being used to mock or belittle others that it started to have a real impact. It's a shame, but there you are.

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