GNHQ please make it clear that these forums are public!

I think particularly those posters who walk on eggshells around family members, those who have been hurt or treated badly, and who post looking for advice, etc. Imagine a family member recognising themself in a thread?

GNHQ it is not really so much to do with usernames it is more that a much larger audience would have access to information. Sometimes someone will write that they are sad a relative died and maybe a little of the circumstances surrounding that death. The chances of another GN being able to recognise that person from their post I would think is quite low but put the same information on FB or twitter and the much wider (and younger) audience may identify the poster with no trouble and then be able to go back and see what other things that poster has said. Sorry but I think you are wrong to do it and very wrong not to make it blindingly obvious to people when joining GN that this is possible. It's a bit late now for many of us who have posted things that we didn't realise may link through to FB or Twitter.

I'm shocked - it feels like a betrayal of trust - I'm not a fool and know that anyone can access the Gransnet website and read posts so I'm careful what I say - but for GNHQ to actively put threads on Facebook & Twitter is unacceptable. It's like those charities who sell their lists of donors to other charities.
I made a conscious decision not to go on Facebook & Twitter - now it's out of my control.
On a lighter note - Jalima, have a lovely time in Crete, but don't tell Gransnetters when you go unless you want FB to know

GNHQ

'2) Social media accounts like Twitter and Facebook exist on their own platforms and by being a member of Gransnet, you aren't automatically signed up to either of these. We do share links to carefully selected threads that we think will resonate.'

Once again I ask you when did I give you permission for you to pass on information ? You have not answered the question, you just state that Facebook and Twitter stand on their own platforms and that we are not automatically signed up to these

I knew GN posts would be read by anyone who visited here but am distressed we were not advised posts would be used to titilate on Facebook . Total betrayal of trust and this is something I find abhorrent

Carefully selected threads ? that's cruel, you read what has been posted then choose?

I'm about to go and answer the thread about left handedness. Another identifying factor; actually quite a strong one.. easy to recognise someone, adding together all that they may have posted.

Can we change usernames if someone had found out what our name was?

Unlike Mumsnet, no we can't.

If you have / set up another email address, you can register as a new GN user with a new name.

I once reported a poster, in a nice way, as she revealed so much information about her GC and 'difficult' daughter, even naming the hospital that the GC was currently in and the type of surgery. The thread went on for a while and a lot of history was given.

If it had been picked-up by FB/Twitter the daughter would have easily identified her mother and her plans to circumvent the daughter's wishes.

I thought the OP needed saving from herself - in the 4/5 years I've been on GN, can count on one hand the number of times I've reported.

I received a very curt reply from GNHQ stating that posters are free to give as much/little information as they want.

I won't do such a thing again - if someone wants to reveal all, then that's their problem.

It's our problem, we will have to warn posters and hope they have their post removed surely

I think this needs reminding on a regular basis as it is so easy to forget.

I have decided to keep to purely impersonal stuff. I will never give family examples etc again or anything remotely like the sort of chat going on on some threads.

We have to keep this post near the top of the list so that new posters see it. I had no idea my words were being shared with the world. Shouldn't think most of them would be much interested i what I write but even so!
I have told quite a few friends etc. that I'm on gransnet, I don't think they have joined but I'm beginning to be concerned that my name is pretty obvious to anyone who knows me.

That's why I've got whitewave. No one could possibly guess from that

Perhaps some people ought to be allowed to anonymise their name?!

Just read GNHQ post. Goodbye PamelaJ1 now I'll have to think of a totally bland name.

The general thing, though, is that usernames can't be changed.
Why not have them easily changeable, as on Mumsnet, instead of needing a special email request?

Gransnet on Facebook describes itself as a media/news company.
So now we know.

GNHQ, why not have a statement at the top of every page to remind people how public GN is? And that links to posts may be put on Facebook or Twitter.
If we're all supposed to be okay with that, what harm could it do?

Googled Gransnet Facebook this morning. I am not a member of Facebook never want to be! However it was an eye opener! Already posts on there from the last 24 hours which I had read on this forum this morning.
I don't know how they had been selected, but certainly some contentious issues!

I wonder if any of this thread will make its way there?

More answers needed to other posts on this thread GNHQ. We are not happy ?

ninathenana you don't see MumsNet posts on Facebook as you are not following them. If you search MumsNet.com on Facebook you will see the posts.

I strongly OBJECT to any of my posts being shared on social media! Where was I told this could happen when I joined GN?

Did I sign an agreement allowing this?

It is a step too far. Most of us had no idea you were doing this. We should be able to opt out if we choose.

If this is going to continue, maybe we should have a closed group on facebook instead.

Who will police who can join a closed group? I belong to a closed group and it is personal recommendation only but it is a very small group.

I totally agree Seacliff I don't remember being asked if I minded when I joined I m not saying I wasn't as I have a memory like a sieve but I m pretty sure I wouldn't have ticked that box so don't think I was asked
I certainly don't want things I ve said on fb or Twitter so if we don't get some answers soon I will be very hesitant about writing anything bar very innocuous stuff