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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Bring back the laugh emoji!

21 replies

SlicedMelon · 18/08/2025 11:01

Dear mumsnet, please can you reinstate the laugh emoji? I want to reward witty commenters with an emoji reaction, the heart, clap and thumbs up simply don’t suffice!

OP posts:
YesHonestly · 18/08/2025 11:03

I agree.

It’s absolutely ridiculous that it was taken away like we’re naughty children who can’t be trusted with it.

The users who misused it in order to be passive aggressive towards other posters won’t have stopped being rude or passive aggressive, surely they are likely to comment on the post instead of reacting to it?

SriouslyWhutNow · 18/08/2025 11:05

It was used to mock someone who was actively suicidal. As is pointed out on all of the millions of threads about this that y'all don't care enough to read before posting another one.
HTH.

QPZM · 18/08/2025 11:06

Me too but they won't because apparently some people abused it.

So instead of banning those people, they took it away for all of us, like a whole class detention.

They should either deal with those posters or make the reactions visible to all, but they won't do that either.

QPZM · 18/08/2025 11:07

SriouslyWhutNow · 18/08/2025 11:05

It was used to mock someone who was actively suicidal. As is pointed out on all of the millions of threads about this that y'all don't care enough to read before posting another one.
HTH.

Oooh why so snarky this morning?

And why are you assuming the OP doesn't know the reason it was taken away?

SlicedMelon · 18/08/2025 11:18

Sorry I have missed all the threads! I still stand by my vote though. Ban the bullies and let us all enjoy the laugh emoji as intended.

OP posts:
Teaforthetotal · 18/08/2025 11:19

I miss it too, I think we should rebel by just quoting with laugh

AnSolas · 18/08/2025 11:20

SlicedMelon · 18/08/2025 11:01

Dear mumsnet, please can you reinstate the laugh emoji? I want to reward witty commenters with an emoji reaction, the heart, clap and thumbs up simply don’t suffice!

🤳👁👁
🤳😬😬😬
🙄
🤪
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

There you go SlicedMelon
All in public no risk of bullying

No YesHonestly the users who misused it in order to be passive aggressive towards other posters won’t have stopped being rude or passive aggressive.
They now have one less option to use.
They did not comment on the actual thread as that would have opened the bullying up for all to see.
Read the multiple other site threads on this where posters admitted they were using the "hidden" options only and felt justified doing it while they would not have posted a "challange" to the actual post or poster.

SlicedMelon · 18/08/2025 11:21

Teaforthetotal · 18/08/2025 11:19

I miss it too, I think we should rebel by just quoting with laugh

Yes I guess that does give the funny person more public “kudos” for their sense of humour - but it is a bit tedious to do and read!

OP posts:
SlicedMelon · 18/08/2025 11:22

AnSolas · 18/08/2025 11:20

🤳👁👁
🤳😬😬😬
🙄
🤪
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

There you go SlicedMelon
All in public no risk of bullying

No YesHonestly the users who misused it in order to be passive aggressive towards other posters won’t have stopped being rude or passive aggressive.
They now have one less option to use.
They did not comment on the actual thread as that would have opened the bullying up for all to see.
Read the multiple other site threads on this where posters admitted they were using the "hidden" options only and felt justified doing it while they would not have posted a "challange" to the actual post or poster.

Maybe they should make it like reddit where you have to pay real money to reward with emojis. No bully would pay 5p for the pleasure of being pas agg

OP posts:
glittercunt · 18/08/2025 11:25

I prefer not having it. No idea if I was ever laughed at but I probably was. There's enough mockery and bullshit here already without that emoji.

PhaseFour · 18/08/2025 11:26

I think I must be the only person who doesn't understand this, (possibly because I'm the sort who disappears from Mumsnet for years on end, then comes back and has to create a new username because I can't remember my username and have changed my email address) so pleaee can someone explain it.

It'sprobably a really stupid question, but if you're on the phone app, can't you just choose to include the emoji anyway, as you could in any ordinary message on e.g. WhatsApp? I'm sure I've done this since the ban.

AnSolas · 18/08/2025 11:34

PhaseFour

I have used the react option to inducate ai agree.
No one but you (&MN ) can see that I have responeded to your post.

People were using that option to bully other posters.

So addind a laugh option and in some cases to any and all post by a poster

so I assume MN got fed up having to manage the reports ans removed it.

SlicedMelon I would never underestimate what people would spend money on.

ThatBlackCat · 18/08/2025 13:06

NO!!! It is used like people on Facebook use it, to MOCK people. Mumsnet should never NEVER allowed it to ever even been an option. Mumsnet you will make this site hostile and unusable if you bring it back, PLEASE don't ever bring it back!

LastKnownSurvivor · 18/08/2025 13:22

PhaseFour · 18/08/2025 11:26

I think I must be the only person who doesn't understand this, (possibly because I'm the sort who disappears from Mumsnet for years on end, then comes back and has to create a new username because I can't remember my username and have changed my email address) so pleaee can someone explain it.

It'sprobably a really stupid question, but if you're on the phone app, can't you just choose to include the emoji anyway, as you could in any ordinary message on e.g. WhatsApp? I'm sure I've done this since the ban.

It's a reaction, not an emoji you'd post in your thread post - so only visible to the person whose post you've reacted to.

I too wish it would come back. The abuse of it could be dealt with by reporting with MNHQ warning people and suspending their accounts if it happened persistently.

I miss it.

Herewegoagainandagainandagain · 18/08/2025 14:03

I'd like to see it back too!

Would like to see the full range of emojis and visible to all too as it will make many threads more readable and allow reactions in long running threads to show appreciation without clogging up the thread. But doubt it will be back, some who wanted rid of it wanted to get rid of the heart one too and think getting rid of just the laughter was the compromise.

Alternative would be for the OP to be allowed to switch on/off emojis for their thread.

Kreepture · 18/08/2025 22:45

you don't need a laugh reaction. use an emoji.

i don't want it back, people can't be trusted not to use it to mock people. your need to tell people how 'oh you're so funny' like a fangirl doesn't trump others peoples need to not be bullied/laughed at for things they don't deserve and aren't remotely funny.

PipMumsnet · 19/08/2025 11:03

Hello, we are sorry but we have no plans to reinstate the laughing emoji anytime soon.
MNHQ

YesHonestly · 19/08/2025 11:04

AnSolas · 18/08/2025 11:20

🤳👁👁
🤳😬😬😬
🙄
🤪
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

There you go SlicedMelon
All in public no risk of bullying

No YesHonestly the users who misused it in order to be passive aggressive towards other posters won’t have stopped being rude or passive aggressive.
They now have one less option to use.
They did not comment on the actual thread as that would have opened the bullying up for all to see.
Read the multiple other site threads on this where posters admitted they were using the "hidden" options only and felt justified doing it while they would not have posted a "challange" to the actual post or poster.

Why do you assume I haven’t read the other threads?

I stand by my opinion. The answer to bullying is to ban the bullies, not a blanket ban on a reaction that the majority were using as it were intended.

AnSolas · 19/08/2025 11:30

YesHonestly · 19/08/2025 11:04

Why do you assume I haven’t read the other threads?

I stand by my opinion. The answer to bullying is to ban the bullies, not a blanket ban on a reaction that the majority were using as it were intended.

YesHonestly · Yesterday 11:03

I agree.
It’s absolutely ridiculous that it was taken away like we’re naughty children who can’t be trusted with it.
The users who misused it in order to be passive aggressive towards other posters won’t have stopped being rude or passive aggressive, surely they are likely to comment on the post instead of reacting to it?

Fine you did read other site threads where the posters explained why they decided to bully others and would not post the same contact openly for all to see.

And the MNs replies which examined what was said on the threads and why MN came to make the decision they did.

YesHonestly · 19/08/2025 11:44

AnSolas · 19/08/2025 11:30

YesHonestly · Yesterday 11:03

I agree.
It’s absolutely ridiculous that it was taken away like we’re naughty children who can’t be trusted with it.
The users who misused it in order to be passive aggressive towards other posters won’t have stopped being rude or passive aggressive, surely they are likely to comment on the post instead of reacting to it?

Fine you did read other site threads where the posters explained why they decided to bully others and would not post the same contact openly for all to see.

And the MNs replies which examined what was said on the threads and why MN came to make the decision they did.

I understand that they’ve said that they’re not bringing it back so my opinion is irrelevant anyway.

I do feel strongly that the bullies should have been banned instead.

MN can surely see who has reacted to a post if the author reports it, it wouldn’t have been difficult to pinpoint who was continuously misusing the laughing emoji, but I guess it is a time issue and a blanket ban is the easiest option. It doesn’t deal with bullies who are no doubt still using the site though.

Dangermoo · 20/08/2025 20:07

Maybe if everyone could see who is reacting to posts, the cowards wouldn't have been so quick to mock.

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