Why has the 'Report' button been hidden in the '3 dots' top right of each post/comment?

[ChristmasFluff]

From recent comments and deletion messages by mods, MN appears to be trying to educate users on reporting posts and comments rather than troll-hunting, yet has made this more difficult by 'hiding' the means of reporting.

I would suggest that returning the 'report' button to the bottom of each post/comment, where it is easily seen would be more effective in encouraging reporting. Just seeing the 'report' option can act like a prompt.

Or is it easier to blame site users, whilst benefitting from the clickbait that trolls provide?

It is easier to blame site users, whilst benefitting from the clickbait that trolls provide.

I think it was because people kept clicking on the report button by mistake.

But if you click by mistake, you just have to click back - to actually report, you then have to fill in a little form.

You had to confirm that you were reporting a post on the next screen though, so I don't buy the suggestion that people were reporting things by mistake.

It's likely that the high volume of racist posts and disinformation on the site was generating too many reports for the moderators to deal with. Instead of dealing with the problem, their solution seems to be to make it harder for people to report.

But clicking it by mistake didn't actually submit a report You had to then click at least two more times in different places on the next page, before a report was submitted.

Not that I mind it being moved tbh, I was always looking for it in the meatball menu anyway - was it there before years ago perhaps? I can't remember, but I often found myself going there intuitively to report posts and then having to remind myself it was at the bottom of the post. Also the menu at the bottom of posts is less cluttered this way and I find accidental clicks less likely as there's space at the edges (where my scrolling finger touches).

I managed to click on the wrong post to report and I think it was because of the three dots at the top, I scrolled up too far, fortunately MN noticed I meant the post below and deleted the right one. I prefer the original way.

I totally agree with you OP.

The only reason that I can think of for hiding it is to deter users from actually reporting posts.

I don't understand why posters clicking on the button in error is being cited as a reason for removing the button. It was virtually impossible to submit a report in error given you then have to select the reason for the report and then click submit report. Inexplicable if this is being given as the excuse for hiding it.

Having the report button visible is vital to the safe functioning of the site.

MN have also hidden the "puzzles" button somewhere.

The yellow button now says "my activity".

If you click on it, you get the same list of options as the ones that are currently visible across the top (I'm watching, I'm on etc etc).

… and yet the totally unnecessary ‘add post’ button is still there.

I’ve also posted about this @ChristmasFluff but MNHQ have said that monitoring of the change hasn’t shown a decline in reports. But they’ll continue to monitor.

<eyeroll>

Or is it easier to blame site users, whilst benefitting from the clickbait that trolls provide?

It has to be this.

Hi @ChristmasFluff thanks for asking about this. Moving the reports button was a data-based decision following no material change in the number of reports in testing. We're still monitoring the number of reports coming in and so far we've seen no change in the frequency or quality of reports, but we'll continue to track things.

@JoMumsnet

Can somebody from MN also answer the other thread about where the puzzles have gone, and why there is now a "my activity" button to bring up the links that already exist at the top of the thread?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/5416834-cant-find-puzzles

Thank you

We're taking a look now

@MeatballMenu we've just posted on the other thread but thought we'd confirm here as well - the Puzzles are still all here but can now be found under the 'More' drop down menu (to the left of the My Activity tab).

Thank you.

But why does the new button just link to links that are already visible?

The only problem is, a steady number of reports could mean that there's been no decrease in reporting because the number of troll posts has stayed the same.

Or it could mean that the number of troll posts has increased and the reports have not increased proportionately because the 'report' button is hidden.

If there is a feeling that troll hunting is increasing (which MN seems to feel is the case, telling users to 'learn the lesson' etc), maybe the latter is the truth? Anecdotally, the number of troll posts v genuine posts seems to me to be increasing.

“data-based decision” tells us precisely nothing about why the report button was moved.

Data on what? Presumably it was a “data-based decision” to hide the report button, what was the question being asked that the answer was “hide the report button and duplicate another link it its place”?

Were people complaining about the sight of a report button? Were they asking for a duplicate link in its place?

The Add Post button means loads of new users post replies that make no sense, doesn't quote or tag anyone, and threads end up a mess.

Irritates me.

Hey @ChristmasFluff,

We understand that anecdotally, you feel that there may be an increase in troll posts, but we can assure you that, looking at the data on the multiple metrics we're tracking, we can rule out this alternative explanation that you've mentioned. When releasing something like this, we build a picture using multiple metrics to get an overall view of the impact of a feature.

We will, though, continue to measure this impact across time to ensure the impact of this change is not detrimental to users on the site.

But WHY did you put it there @Rebeccaatmumsnet?! MNHQ still haven’t answered that question.

And why is ‘add post’ still there, when it clearly doesn’t add anything - in fact (as @ButSheSaid says) it leads to confusion for many users.

Hey @BIWI , thanks for getting in touch. We moved it out to see the impact on the number & quality of reports. We have now moved it back in because there was no impact on the number & quality of reports. We are continuing to measure the impact over time to ensure that we don't see any changes to our metrics.

Also, RE 'add post': We've got a project coming up that addresses this issue. I can get in touch nearer the time if you're interested in helping us test this? We completely agree, and this insight has been part of the data behind the upcoming project.

Whilst not wanting to labour the point, unless these metrics can identify a definitive number of troll posts, I'm not sure that my suspicion can be discounted?

If those metrics are able to identify troll posts, that really interesting because it would show a possibility for AI to detect trolls and relieve the burden on moderators.

Under my prior user account I was one of the posters who saw the appalling child abuse images and reported them.

I’ve just reported a standard spam post and had to scroll back up to find the report button at the top of the post, and hunt for it in the hamburger menu.

I remember when reporting the abuse images that I clicked at the bottom of the post so I was able to do so without having to view the image again (as I scrolled it up to the top of the screen.) I also didn’t have to hunt around for the report option as it was clearly visible. It sounds really silly typing it I know, it’s hard to explain how much it mattered to not have to see the image again while reporting it. Just in case this feedback is relevant…

I don’t get why users get so worked up about this stuff. It’s just a website. The option to report is still there.

If it doesn’t bother or interest you @JJZ then just scroll on by ...