Would it be helpful to have the option to verify users?

[Cornflakegirl7]

Reddit already do this.

As in, if I was giving advice on something to do with an industry I work in, MN can verify that I have the job title I say I have?

Same with voluntary positions, experience etc

How would they verify, they'd have to search through governing bodies, check names against registration, it's a full time job and not everyone is a registered employee.

Its tricky
I have a profession where I sometimes have a "as an xyz" but would never verify myself. I would want to protect my registration, and of i was truely standinf as my profession then i could get in trouble for not toeing official lines and in theory could never give any advice about anything online because I wouldnt have the relevant back ground eg medical history. Youd just get vague wish washy stuff

Its a bit like if you've got a dr friend. The advice you'd get as a mum friend is different then the advice you'd get if you were seeing them in a professional capacity.

Everyone would comment a lot differently if their full names, employer, jobs and identifying details were linked to mumsnet admin, regardless of background

I thought that MN explicitly said that the advice on the threads is not verified?

Surely if they went down the route of verifying users it would change the whole nature of the site?

It would also deter or prevent people with real experience of situations giving an often very valuable contribution.

Do Reddit do that? How?

That would be an administrative and GDPR nightmare for Mumsnet and, imo, completely unworkable.

Also, what if one of the verified people moves job? Or gives poor advice? Would that be on Mumsnet to monitor?

Why would MN as a business want to take on the work and liability involved in attempting to verify people?

Also, why would MN users look to MN for verified advice?It is a chat site - people understand the limits of that and should look elsewhere for authoritative professional, opinions.

I don't think Reddit do.

But why on earth would anyone be verified? They don't get paid for the advice or content but would they be held accountable?

I wouldn’t go for this. It’s just a chat forum.

Not many people like to take constructive advice on here, anyway.... verified or not. 🤷‍♀️

I don't think thats a good idea. Theres some brilliant advice from professionals on mumsnet but we all need to remember that for something crucially important, real life advice from a professional who knows the whole situation is needed. Verifying individual posters on mumsnet would set a false expectation on what is being offered.

How would it even work, OP?

Also, no professional is going to open themself to being sued for advice given on a chat forum.

Would any sane professional want to give advice on MN that could be traced back to them personally?

MNHQ resources would be better focused targeting less than genuine and previously banned posters who return again and again, bullying etc. That sort of thing is ruining MN, IMHO.

I think that's setting expectations way too high for a free internet chat forum. No poster has to take any advice they read on here, and it's really on the individual to decide what to heed and what to ignore. Asking anonymous strangers on the internet is never going to be particularly reliable and nobody should expect otherwise.

If you want professionally verified advice, you need to pay for it, and give a much fuller background than in a typical post.

Hi @Cornflakegirl7. Thanks for your suggestion.

Mumsnet Talk is a peer-to-peer community, so we don’t generally verify job titles or credentials for regular posts. One of the strengths of the site is anonymity, which lets people ask questions and share experiences they might not feel comfortable posting under their real name. We know Mumsnet users are by and large incredibly wise and supportive, and the advice and insights they share are often the best anyone could hope for.

At the end of the day, we’re all adults here and can exercise our own judgement about the information we read and the advice we take.

I am not sure exactly how they do it. There's a forum where people can ask for advice from medical professionals-and to respond, you must be a verified medic.

There's also 'AMA' threads where people have verified they are who they say they are-there was one from a researcher into Covid19 in the middle of the pandemic.

I wasn't suggesting people had to verify, more so if it would be an option.

Reddit do verify on the AMA sub. I think MN should verify on the AMA threads on here.

How on earth would anyone verify voluntary positions? And what would be the point, exactly?

If people want advice from certified professionals, then they need to go and see a lawyer or a doctor or whatever. Not post on MN.

It simply wouldn't be practical or desirable for MN to verify everyone's qualifications. Too time consuming for MHNQ. Incredibly intrusive and off putting for forum users. And a complete legal nightmare for everyone... who would be liable, for example, if one of the verified professionals gave incorrect advice?

I run a team of volunteers at work and I'd find it hilarious if they asked me for some sort of reference so they could give advice on Mumsnet 🤭