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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Fake threads

65 replies

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 07/12/2025 14:27

Hi MNHQ

I am one of many posters who, in recent months, has noticed and often commented on the sheer volume of posts, usually in AIBU, that have had all the hallmarks of a fake thread designed to drive traffic.

They read like those long-winded 'dilemmas' posted on Bored Panda or 5 Minute Crafts or similar, that pop up on our facebook feeds. The issues are always along a similar theme, some sort of family problem or dilemma that is bound to divide opinion and lead to a fierce debate on a long running thread.

I can always spot them. They are posted in the morning, the OP usually has no other posts under that user name, or just one or two anodyne responses on other people's threads within the previous 48 hours to give the illusion of a regular poster. Even the user names chosen seem to follow a predictable theme. There is rarely, if ever any further engagement on the thread they've started, even though they have asked for advice and opinions for this 'problem' and got 10 pages of feedback. If there is any engagement it's brief and not as involved as you'd expect it to be. Again,I feel this only happens once people have voiced misgivings that the thread might not be real, as if to reassure us that the poster is genuine, but there is clearly no real interest in engaging in the thread they started.

Usually when people call out the OP on a thread for possibly trolling, lying or making up stories, MNHQ starts smacking wrists for troll hunting. Yet I've noticed when it happens on these 'baity' sort of threads, there is no reaction from MNHQ.

Mumsnet, I'd like to know the truth because I feel like we are being taken for fools just to keep your site turning over and your advertisers happy.

Do you, or do you not PAY for people or bots to create content in the form of fake threads? Either content creation services, or people who already work for MNHQ? Yes or no?

Or do you use AI to make them up and just post them yourselves?

OP posts:
IAmKerplunk · 07/12/2025 14:42

Ooh interesting questions!

DeathBanana · 07/12/2025 15:14

I can’t imagine they’re going to fess up but it’s certainly feels like that’s what happens. Especially in light of the weird edit to the racist thread.

Edinburghdaze · 07/12/2025 15:17

I’m not sure what kind of fake threads you mean? Advertising things?

AgentPidge · 07/12/2025 15:21

Edinburghdaze · 07/12/2025 15:17

I’m not sure what kind of fake threads you mean? Advertising things?

No, they're as she explained in the OP - dilemmas. Things like, SIL is doing this thing, I don't agree with it, AIBU? Cue lots of discussion, with no further posts from the OP. Often they're worded weirdly too.

Blarn · 07/12/2025 15:30

I was thinking about this earlier today. I did wonder if they are created by the bot farms who post content and drive comments on Facebook and the like? Purposely created to encourage arguments about social issues.

baroqueandblue · 07/12/2025 15:55

They will never admit it, OP, but your instincts aren't wrong and it is happening. In fact I would bet it's the main reason behind how the homepage options were recently re-designed so that the first couple of lines of every OP are visible. It gets more clicks than just a thread title 🔍

MNHQ
JoMumsnet · 07/12/2025 17:36

Hi HeadDeskHeadDesk,

This is an easy one to answer. We have never and would never pay people or bots to create fake threads. It's a no to all of your questions!

If you suspect that a thread is not genuine, all we ask is that you report it to us so we can check things out behind the scenes. If the OP's new to the site we try to give the benefit of the doubt, but obviously if there are any matches showing with previously banned accounts we'll take the thread down.

Original poster
HeadDeskHeadDesk · 07/12/2025 17:53

JoMumsnet · 07/12/2025 17:36

Hi HeadDeskHeadDesk,

This is an easy one to answer. We have never and would never pay people or bots to create fake threads. It's a no to all of your questions!

If you suspect that a thread is not genuine, all we ask is that you report it to us so we can check things out behind the scenes. If the OP's new to the site we try to give the benefit of the doubt, but obviously if there are any matches showing with previously banned accounts we'll take the thread down.

So what is there to be gained from some third party doing this on your site? Because one thing I am 100% sure of is that these threads are not genuine and they are not hundreds of individual posters out there who are all just weird fantasists making up these threads for the kicks.

It's a phenomenon that's recent and lots of us have noticed it. There is definitely some sort of organised thing going on here from either a small group of individuals (too many to be the work of one person) or an organisation, maybe using AI to write the threads, maybe not, but there is a motive somewhere. I don't know what it is, but I know what it's not. It's not a seried of regular genuine people with regular, genuine AIBUs.

If we start reporting them as suspected fakes and you find that one 'person' is responsible for thirty different threads under thirty different user names but not actually engaging with other threads or even commenting much on their own threads, what does that suggest, exactly? Who would do that, and more interestingly, why? Unless it's MN doing it, which would at least make sense.

OP posts:
Edinburghdaze · 07/12/2025 18:06

AgentPidge · 07/12/2025 15:21

No, they're as she explained in the OP - dilemmas. Things like, SIL is doing this thing, I don't agree with it, AIBU? Cue lots of discussion, with no further posts from the OP. Often they're worded weirdly too.

Show quote history

But why would they do that themself? Sorry if I’m being thick I just don’t understand the benefit!

Highlighta · 07/12/2025 18:15

Edinburghdaze · 07/12/2025 18:06

But why would they do that themself? Sorry if I’m being thick I just don’t understand the benefit!

Show quote history

They are rage bait posts.

They are always on a topic that will generate posts with strong views either way.

So fake posts intended to get reactions.

Notmymarmosets · 07/12/2025 18:21

Edinburghdaze · 07/12/2025 18:06

But why would they do that themself? Sorry if I’m being thick I just don’t understand the benefit!

Show quote history

For traffic, advertising and engagement.

Notmymarmosets · 07/12/2025 18:22

The longer people are on the site, the more advertising they see.

SwedishEdith · 07/12/2025 18:28

So it's the companies advertising on here that employ people to generate fake controversial threads?

Posters who are planning on posting extremist stuff at a later date definitely also start threads on relatively benign or non-political topics to create a posting history.

TangoWhiskeyAlphaTango123 · 07/12/2025 18:31

Well done OP for raising this I 100% agree with you. I have been here for over 20 years and only just more recently can you spot them - I am sick to death of commenting and the OP never coming back (I am not over involved but it a community to which we all give time). It feels like a take over and a huge step away from what MN has always stood for.

We have always had the nastiness and the trolls but this is something that is changing the whole tone of the site and for the first time ever I am thinking of leaving as it is spoiling it all (not that little old me will be missed but I think there are many of us who feel the same). Such a shame as on the whole I have loved this site.

TangoWhiskeyAlphaTango123 · 07/12/2025 18:34

If you suspect that a thread is not genuine, all we ask is that you report it to us so we can check things out behind the scenes. If the OP's new to the site we try to give the benefit of the doubt, but obviously if there are any matches showing with previously banned accounts we'll take the thread down.

This is a very one dimensional and predictable answer - what measures are being put in place by MN to reduce this invasion and save the essence of the place?

columnatedruinsdomino · 07/12/2025 18:40

Some forums I’m on don’t allow you to start your own threads until 10 days after you’ve joined. Would that help do you think?

PandoraSocks · 07/12/2025 18:43

columnatedruinsdomino · 07/12/2025 18:40

Some forums I’m on don’t allow you to start your own threads until 10 days after you’ve joined. Would that help do you think?

Edited

Hmm. I don't know if that is a good idea. Someone might be in genuine need of urgent advice or support. Maybe apply this to AIBU, though?

PandoraSocks · 07/12/2025 18:45

SwedishEdith · 07/12/2025 18:28

So it's the companies advertising on here that employ people to generate fake controversial threads?

Posters who are planning on posting extremist stuff at a later date definitely also start threads on relatively benign or non-political topics to create a posting history.

Totally. Sometimes they resurrect user names from years ago too.

Iheartmysmart · 07/12/2025 18:45

There are loads of shit stirring threads started on here now where the OP makes a really controversial post, then buggers off and leaves everyone arguing amongst themselves. I’ve reported a few but nothing ever happens, they remain up. I generally do a quick search before reading a thread now to see if the OP has been back to respond to anyone.

It’s almost as annoying as the ones where people don’t read the opening post properly and ask stupid questions that have already been answered.

IAmKerplunk · 07/12/2025 18:47

Once you spot a thread like this it becomes so obvious when looking at other threads. Op posts less than half a dozen times and fucks off.

SeaAndStars · 07/12/2025 18:59

After a while you can spot them well enough to be able to make them up yourself.

E.g.

AIBU - to think that all children, regardless of their faith should be made to go to Christian assemblies in school every day. Poster name is something like Devil666

AIBU - to think that only rich people can afford to be kind and anything else is performative attention seeking by people who are networking for personal gain. Poster name BoredOrangeJay

AIBU - to think that women don't love men who earn less than them. I'm not saying all women, but what I observe is that young women will only date men richer than them. Poster name SurrenderedWife72.
.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 07/12/2025 19:28

IAmKerplunk · 07/12/2025 14:42

Ooh interesting questions!

Indeed!

GoodBrew · 07/12/2025 19:35

Dear MN Mods, please don't ban people for stating their opinions. Having a negative view of Mumsnet is not against the forum rules. The following is simply my personal opinion

You sort of shot yourself in the foot here OP by asking if they pay people to do this. Of course they do it in my opinion, but they don't pay people specifically for it. It will be members of staff that are paid for other roles, or volunteers doing it via an AI bot. So no money is changing hands for this specific job. This allows them to come in here and honestly say "no we don't pay anyone to do this". They are answering a slightly different question to the one you meant to ask.

GoodBrew · 07/12/2025 19:40

I disagree that companies who pay to advertise on here would also invest their effort and money into generating false content. Surely if they purchase an advert they expect viewers as part of the service? Why would they pay for an advert and then put loads of work into drumming up people's engagement with the site so they see it? I would think they would just go and pay for adverts on more active sites instead of going to all that trouble.

Think of it this way. If a company buys a television advert they don't also buy lots of newspaper adverts encouraging people to tune in to watch Countdown because it will help more people view their advert.

SwedishEdith · 07/12/2025 19:48

GoodBrew · 07/12/2025 19:40

I disagree that companies who pay to advertise on here would also invest their effort and money into generating false content. Surely if they purchase an advert they expect viewers as part of the service? Why would they pay for an advert and then put loads of work into drumming up people's engagement with the site so they see it? I would think they would just go and pay for adverts on more active sites instead of going to all that trouble.

Think of it this way. If a company buys a television advert they don't also buy lots of newspaper adverts encouraging people to tune in to watch Countdown because it will help more people view their advert.

I don't think a company needs to put that much effort in though. AI generates the post, someone in their comms or marketing team posts it on here. Maybe a few others in that company respond as other accounts to get the fake controversial thread going. Not saying this definitely happens but it's not massively time consuming to do.