Mumsnet founder Roberts plots delivery of new owner

[IwantToRetire]

Justine Roberts is in talks with investors about the sale of a stake in the online parenting community platform she set up in 2000 and which now boasts 8 million monthly users, Sky News learns.
https://news.sky.com/story/mumsnet-founder-roberts-plots-delivery-of-new-owner-13501362

I hadn't seen anything about this but someone mentioned it on the site stuff thread about the title change AI nonsense as they thought the change might be linked to that. (making MN more safe and cuddly?)

So partly posting as a point of information, as others may not have seen it.

There is an existing AIBU thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5484613-mumsnet-to-be-sold from January.

I thought this was common knowledge on MN.

I think only if you are someone who uses the site as a whole.

Many on FWR dont bother with it!

I thought this was common knowledge on FWR!

I think the article implies "negotions" for "some parts" which is why some are suspicious.

And the moment i read it I thought will FWR will not be one of the parts investors might be interested in.

Is now the time to vote for independenct and sail off into the virtual world under our own steam?!

Another breakaway group? Mouldies 2🦈
Mn is quite a vox pop of women, loud enough to get noticed by special interest groups that would like those voices to pipe down. I've seen it fragment into different boards that are a sad reflection of society divisions, quite the useful microcosm, and obviously dangerously influential.
Maybe JKR knows people who could buy a share😶

We dont all live n MN. I didnt know and I'd see it as quite likely being someone wanting to buy and close this down.

Maybe mumsnet can just franchise mumsnet america and a few other places,

I was aware of this a while ago. It does have the potential to go wrong so needs careful handling.

We have had the internet long enough to see examples of very successful websites/social media go wrong very quickly. Friends Reunited comes to mind as one.

I think the point made about something that is bought as an investment rather than from some shared understanding / sympathy for the purpose of whoever started it has all to often seen the end of what made whatever it is unique.

I am not underestimating what it took to get MN started and to keep it going, but can see that the very loud and opinionated FWR could very easily be the first casualty of a new owne "rationalising" the product.

Could FWR be sold as a money maker. What type of advertised would want to buy space on it.

What type of advertised would want to buy space on FWR

I've got quite a selection here now! Specsavers, skincare, a betting site, sports equipment. I don't think they care about my gender politics 😄

Ah I didn’t know it was up for sale. I suppose Justine has run it for a long time and, like Martin Lewis, wouldn’t mind coming away with a chunk of money pre retirement. However, no online spaces are run with honourable intentions now. They all are run to data grab and/or influence and shape opinion and behaviour. Whoever is interested in buying MN will purely be maximise ROI, this changes aspects like manipulating algorithms, bringing in new mods etc.

Such a shame. If any enterprising FWRers started up a chat forum, I’d join. Could SM start one? Any chance JKR would want to buy MN??

So as not to be thought to be making too much of this (!!) the article actually says "in talks with investors about the sale of a stake in the online parenting community platform".

So presumably that means helping getting cash towards running costs.

And it you were such an investor, what would you ask in return.

To get a halo of do-gooding to allow busy mums to go on talking to each other, or even that you support the right of women to assert the the reality of their biological sex!

Everything I've seen about the sale is that it's about bringing in capital to help Mumsnet to expand.

Tech is expensive. Mumsnet have had a few close calls in the last 5 years, The move 2(?) years ago to a new platform was long overdue and very poorly handled. They have clearly underinvested in the tech side, so I can see why they might be looking for new sources.

They have a lot of security to handle now as well as complex marketing and big user numbers. But it's allowed them to really expand partnerships with brands who want women. The shopping focus looks really promising from a revenue perspective. And FWR keep Mumsnet in the news and boosts the user numbers, so has big value. I doubt Justine's continued to support for women being able to talk about the reality of gender ideology in the face of opposition 10 years ago was because she thought it was a good commercial decision, but it looks like it's probably ended up being that.

If I were investing I'd probably be looking at building on the partnerships and maybe franchising to other countries. I'd want money coming in, I wouldn't care about the politics one way or another. And most investors don't really. With the change in support for gender ideology and Pride at the corporate level over the last two years and the way so many brands have lost money and heard the contempt of their customer base when promoting transwomen, I'm not too worried about it changing the editorial policy.

British things dont always sell well in other countries. Last time I looked gransnet seemed more likely to translate well to America than mumsnet. Maybe the focus should be on that first.

I hadn't heard of this and I don't only use FWR.

Previous attempts at independent feminist forums have met with only limited success. Ovarit managed it for a bit but then folded. The current internet economy is very stacked against small forums and independent websites, as Google try to drive as much traffic as possible to Reddit and for-profit businesses.

Maybe. I’m seeing more and more Americans (and non-British in general) on the forums though so possibly this is one thing that will sell well elsewhere.

Or may be they’ll push other aspects and develop different content for different markets. Mumsnet is more than the forums (I’ve heard!).

MN is a for profit!

Also, it’s not an independent feminist forum. It’s a large marketing platform aimed mainly at women and parents, with a user base that hits a lot of desired marketing demographics. It has a lot of non-forum content and a well developed product review/recommendation program.

I think, if the site is sold to something like Fox News, on a right wing/MAGA ticket, this board could be a definite pro. The question is then whether it fits in with the tone of the rest of the site