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What do you think of Gransnet?

(192 Posts)
Elless Sat 25-Oct-25 10:49:07

I enjoy reading Gransnet and it has been really helpful and informative over the years but the interface is very old fashioned. It doesn't seem to reflect today's Grans - the pictures that are used are boring and the whole layout is dull. I know some will say if it ain't broke don't fix it but the systems need updating too.

petra Sat 25-Oct-25 10:55:19

All the above costs money. GN only generates money from advertising. Companies will only buy advertising space where there is a profit.
Obviously there isn’t enough traffic for companies to buy that space on GN.

CariadAgain Sat 25-Oct-25 10:57:36

I think one thing we'd all agree on is the need to be able to edit our posts - yep...lots of us have got typing errors up on our posts because there is no way of correcting them. Other than putting up a post straight afterwards saying "I didnt mean this - I meant that".

I think we're so used to being able to correct our typing errors afterwards on everything else on the Net that we forget we have to proofread carefully before posting here.

crazyH Sat 25-Oct-25 10:57:52

What interface? What pictures? I come here to read real-life stories, opinions on various subjects, play games etc. I haven’t found it difficult to manoeuvre the site.

Mollygo Sat 25-Oct-25 11:07:41

What pictures?
Since the only pictures put on GN are posted by GN members, that’s rather rude of you LS.

Charleygirl5 Sat 25-Oct-25 11:13:44

Every year, we are asked what changes we would like to see. We put forward suggestions, such as the ability to edit, but nothing is ever actioned. Little has changed since I joined around 11 years ago.

fancythat Sat 25-Oct-25 11:13:54

CariadAgain

I think one thing we'd all agree on is the need to be able to edit our posts - yep...lots of us have got typing errors up on our posts because there is no way of correcting them. Other than putting up a post straight afterwards saying "I didnt mean this - I meant that".

I think we're so used to being able to correct our typing errors afterwards on everything else on the Net that we forget we have to proofread carefully before posting here.

I use the preview message. Quite frequently.

fancythat Sat 25-Oct-25 11:15:16

Charleygirl5

Every year, we are asked what changes we would like to see. We put forward suggestions, such as the ability to edit, but nothing is ever actioned. Little has changed since I joined around 11 years ago.

I remember a main picture changing!

I thought ooh. Things are happening.
Then I am not sure there was anything else at all.

I dont mind really.
I was glad for the picture to change though.

nanna8 Sat 25-Oct-25 11:15:46

Pictures ? Is this the same forum ? Adverts ? I don’t get any of those,either. A few pics from posters is all, just photos. I still think we should have a ‘like’ button but people here seem to be very, very sensitive about that. No idea why, not as if I would want a ‘dislike’ button. We are seen as old farts I guess so we have to have old fart’s technology.

Grammaretto Sat 25-Oct-25 11:24:48

There are adverts on every page when I look. How come others don't get them.
They are usually old age related, but it doesn't bother me, anymore than daytime television.

At my time of life I am happy to look at stairlifts and funeral plans 😂🤣😅

Allira Sat 25-Oct-25 11:27:20

There are pictures on the home page.

The only two adverts I saw today were something about your baby's key milestones and nourishing your baby's skin!

I think they're past that stage now.

Marg75 Sat 25-Oct-25 11:28:00

You can edit your post, just click on Preview, check and edit, then click on Post.

Crossstitchfan Sat 25-Oct-25 11:28:10

That made me laugh, Nanna8. ‘Old fart’ just about describes me perfectly these days because I am finding that more and more things annoy me, especially on the tv. For example, I quite often see people on programmes like ‘Breakfast’ and the like. They are in the studio, have obviously known in advance that they will be on screen, but do they look in the mirror first? So many of these people have hair like birds’ nests and have obviously not made any effort to look nice.
I know most will say that people have every right to dress as they please, and it’s none of my business, and up to a point, I agree. But I have to admit, I do wonder where their self-pride has gone. I do have to look at these people (often while eating my breakfast) and I wouldn’t go into my own garden looking like some of these people do. It’s a matter of personal pride, and they obviously have none.

Allira Sat 25-Oct-25 11:28:39

Some of the pictures on the home page have not changed in years 😁
But I never really look at it.

CariadAgain Sat 25-Oct-25 11:34:59

nanna8

Pictures ? Is this the same forum ? Adverts ? I don’t get any of those,either. A few pics from posters is all, just photos. I still think we should have a ‘like’ button but people here seem to be very, very sensitive about that. No idea why, not as if I would want a ‘dislike’ button. We are seen as old farts I guess so we have to have old fart’s technology.

There's certainly times where I go to click the "like" button and then remember it doesn't exist.

But, on balance, I think it would facilitate "pile-ons" - ie someone putting up a post that someone else didnt agree with and they and their buddies would pile into clicking whatever button best represented "dislike". So I'm inclined to think it's best not to have such a button.

M0nica Sat 25-Oct-25 11:40:39

I am quite happy as it is. Someone starts a post, we comment or not and GN HQ moderate it, Admittedly their decisions are not always clear but surely a certan element of quirkiness only adds to GN's charms.

I get bored with the way everybody everywhere seems to think that as soon as something is working, it needs to constantly have bells and whistles added to it. recipes, food, websites, cars everything, software, phones. You name it, as soon as something simply and understandable is working people want to upgrade it.

PaynesGrey Sat 25-Oct-25 11:40:51

Elless

I enjoy reading Gransnet and it has been really helpful and informative over the years but the interface is very old fashioned. It doesn't seem to reflect today's Grans - the pictures that are used are boring and the whole layout is dull. I know some will say if it ain't broke don't fix it but the systems need updating too.

It’s incredibly dated. In theory, it should have a similar look to Mumsnet but the fact is, GN has never made a profit and relies on substantial funding from MN to keep it going.

Last accounting, year end to 31 December 2024, it had just £27,000 in the bank. creditors of almost £300,000 (mostly owed to the parent company). It employs only one person.

tinyurl.com/2yf5pnvz. if anyone is interested.

Compare MN with pre tax profits of £3.1million and £3 million in the bank.

Membership numbers are not known but there seem to be very few active forum members. The same names and same arguments come up over and over. Other content is tired and stale.

It’s suposed to be aimed at people 50 and over but I suspect the average age of forum participants is 75-85.

I don't understood why it isn’t absorbed into Mumsnet.

Caleo Sat 25-Oct-25 11:49:16

PaynesGrey

Elless

I enjoy reading Gransnet and it has been really helpful and informative over the years but the interface is very old fashioned. It doesn't seem to reflect today's Grans - the pictures that are used are boring and the whole layout is dull. I know some will say if it ain't broke don't fix it but the systems need updating too.

It’s incredibly dated. In theory, it should have a similar look to Mumsnet but the fact is, GN has never made a profit and relies on substantial funding from MN to keep it going.

Last accounting, year end to 31 December 2024, it had just £27,000 in the bank. creditors of almost £300,000 (mostly owed to the parent company). It employs only one person.

tinyurl.com/2yf5pnvz. if anyone is interested.

Compare MN with pre tax profits of £3.1million and £3 million in the bank.

Membership numbers are not known but there seem to be very few active forum members. The same names and same arguments come up over and over. Other content is tired and stale.

It’s suposed to be aimed at people 50 and over but I suspect the average age of forum participants is 75-85.

I don't understood why it isn’t absorbed into Mumsnet.

I did not know these facts.
Could you please do a point by point comparison between Mumsnet and Gransnet/

Sarnia Sat 25-Oct-25 12:22:10

It does need tweaking. I would like the opportunity to click 'like' and similar responses.

Elless Sat 25-Oct-25 12:25:22

Mollygo

What pictures?
Since the only pictures put on GN are posted by GN members, that’s rather rude of you LS.

When you initially open the site (on laptop) the was a picture of a lady with a dog, that picture was on for over a year. Now it has changed to another lady (admittedly younger and more attractive) taking her medication. No need to be so aggressive, I was only asking for opinions.

PaynesGrey Sat 25-Oct-25 12:31:54

You are right, Elless.

There are lots of stock pictures on GN, things to do with grandparenting, health and beauty, food etc. The woman with the small dog was there for a long time now replaced with this one.

Tizliz Sat 25-Oct-25 12:39:58

The same names and same arguments come up over and over. Other content is tired and stale

My initial reaction is you have the power to change it. Post different content. But I think most of us like it how it is or we go to Munsnet

Tizliz Sat 25-Oct-25 12:41:18

Even previewing doesn't prevent spelling errors!

Mt61 Sat 25-Oct-25 12:51:57

CariadAgain

I think one thing we'd all agree on is the need to be able to edit our posts - yep...lots of us have got typing errors up on our posts because there is no way of correcting them. Other than putting up a post straight afterwards saying "I didnt mean this - I meant that".

I think we're so used to being able to correct our typing errors afterwards on everything else on the Net that we forget we have to proofread carefully before posting here.

I agree. I’d love an edit button as my posts are always full of typos

Mt61 Sat 25-Oct-25 12:52:42

Tizliz

*The same names and same arguments come up over and over. Other content is tired and stale*

My initial reaction is you have the power to change it. Post different content. But I think most of us like it how it is or we go to Munsnet

Can you edit on mumsnet?