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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

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Original poster

I can no longer Google Mum.... so that Mumsnet Feminism automatically comes up

43 replies

loveyouradvice · 01/06/2019 10:04

Am I being paranoid?

A few weeks ago on Google if I entered just Mums.... Mumsnet Feminism would autofill itself ie it had learnt this is where I want to dgo.... now I have to enter the full Mumsnet and often Mumsnet Feminism isn't even on the list of options???????

OP posts:
TheInebriati · 01/06/2019 10:18

I just tried that and got the same result. I used to get FWR as the top result.

WhereYouLeftIt · 01/06/2019 12:03

I just tried and got this list from typing in "mums".

Have you cleared your browser history perhaps? I have a vague memory that the browser stores what you've typed into the search field and brings that up at the top of the suggested list.

I can no longer Google Mum.... so that Mumsnet Feminism automatically comes up
Redshoeblueshoe · 01/06/2019 12:08

You clearly don't spend enough time on here. I don't have to type anything in, and Mumsnet always comes up as the first option Grin

GrumpyGran8 · 01/06/2019 12:17

There's nothing sinister about it. Autocompleting a URL happens in the browser; when it doesn't, it's usually because you've cleared your browsing history, cookies or your cache. Cleanup software like CCCleaner will do this if you don't change the options; sometimes broswer updates will do the same.
Why not just bookmark FWR?

TheInebriati · 01/06/2019 12:31

I use a sandbox and have done since a clean install on a new hard drive. Everything is deleted when I close the sandbox. Then I run a registry cleaner.
So no, this is not the cache or the cookies.

ScrimshawTheSecond · 21/08/2019 10:06

I'm searching on google. When I google 'mumsnet feminism', which I'm fairly sure used to come up first with feminist chat, now no link to the fwr chat page shows on the first two pages of results.

There are links to feminist activism, individual posts on other mumsnet boards referencing feminism, a wiki talk page criticising mumsnet, a link to 'has feminism ruined my life' post.

I do get the feeling someone/something is fucking with the algorithms. Seems a fairly predictable tactic to try to make it harder for people to find Mumsnet feminist chat; if it's not showing up on a google search it's a little bit more of a pain to get to.

Patnotpending · 21/08/2019 10:10

Exactly the same has happened to me.

I always used to type Mumsnet Feminism and end up here directly but for the last few days I've been directed to feminist activism, flouncing and goodness knows what.

It's as if someone's trying to make this particular forum, Feminist Chat, more difficult to find.

FermatsTheorem · 21/08/2019 10:11

There was a thread about this last week.

I've tried with google using private browsing which automatically clears cookies between sessions - feminism chat no longer comes up. Similar issue with Apple and safari on DS's ipad.

In contrast it is the first hit on duck duck go (which doesn't track your browsing and doesn't tie everything you do back to whatever gmail account you have open in your browser at the same time).

Yes, I think someone's been tinkering with the algorithms.

Usernumbers1234 · 21/08/2019 10:12

Tin foil hats for sale, DM for details

FermatsTheorem · 21/08/2019 10:15

You know the old joke, "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you."

With the development and use of mass block lists on twitter (to the extent where women new to twitter find themselves on block lists purely on the basis of who they have followed), vexatious reporting being widespread, massive sexist double standards in modding on various sites (e.g. Twitter banning a transwoman for saying transwomen were men, while allowing threats to "die in a grease fire" directed at gender critical women to stand), I'd say a little bit of paranoia is understandable and may in fact have a basis in the actual behaviour of big tech companies.

2BthatUnnoticed · 21/08/2019 11:10

Yep someone raised this before - I think Google has adjusted the algorithm. Tech employs a really high proportion of TW (including something like 20% of Twitter’s workforce, I heard). Hence women who don’t comply, can be affected online quite easily.

Koalablue · 21/08/2019 11:13

Mumsnet feminism is the second on my Google list. Chat is first.

ScrimshawTheSecond · 21/08/2019 11:35

I think it might perhaps be something to do with Google launching a 'site diversity' change in June. This apparently limits how many pages come up from any one site. Still finding it a bit odd that the results mainly seem to be feminist-hostile/critical of Mumsnet. And I think 'editorial' decisions are made at some level of what is shown. Going to do a bit more digging.

www.searchenginejournal.com/google-site-diversity-change/311557/#close

AnotherNightWatering · 21/08/2019 11:42

I think it might perhaps be something to do with Google launching a 'site diversity' change in June.
It happened after June - see the other thread.
Scrimshaw it might be better to continue this on the other thread???

MangoFeverDream · 21/08/2019 11:46

Tech employs a really high proportion of TW

This right here. They probably think FWR is alt-right adjacent and fuck around with the results.

Dexra · 21/08/2019 11:53

I've noticed the same. Feminism chat always used to be my first result. Now I struggle to get it, and activism comes up, which is rarely used, and as someone else said, Flouncers Corner... It's honestly quite sinister.

2BthatUnnoticed · 21/08/2019 11:57

Hmm just searched and couldn’t find confirmation of that figure for Twitter, so I retract 20pc. The wider point stands though.

I have no trouble finding AIBU via google. FWR seems no longer possible, for me.

DanaPhoenix · 21/08/2019 12:00

Yep. I've had the same issues, started a couple of days ago. I didn't think too much of it at first because we've been having some wifi issues as some work (NBN I suspect) occurring in our area.

Type Mumsnet Feminism, first result is a Mumsnet Activism thread. Nothing to do with clearing your history or cookies I do that on the regular and have not encountered it before. I also (before this post) switched between both my google accounts and, SUPRISE, same results.

MNHQ
HopeMumsnet · 21/08/2019 12:45

Hi all,
This is just a wee holding message, really as we're discussing this in the office and will try to get to the bottom of it. We'll report back when and if we find out what's gone on.
Cheers!

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 21/08/2019 12:48

I'd be surprised if Webmaster Tools hasn't flagged this to MN, if anyone monitors it.

DanaPhoenix · 21/08/2019 12:52

Thanks Hope.

EmpressLesbianInChair · 21/08/2019 12:59

Thanks Hope.

I’ve looked at results for Mumsnet feminism on Moz & Semrush. No sign of /feminist_chat on either. What does Google Search Console say when your SEO person inspects the URL?

HauntedPinecone · 21/08/2019 13:24

I used to just have to type 'Mumsnet fem' and it would come up. Now it only brings up Activism, and an old thread. Curious.

TeiTetua · 21/08/2019 13:29

I tried a search on 'mumsnet feminism' at Duckduckgo and it worked fine, so it looks like a problem just with Google. Have the TRA's got a mole there?