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Re: Age Verification - Upcoming Change
independent_ wrote: »That seems to be the main concern here - that no other services are doing this. If other services were beginning to implement this as well, perhaps people wouldn’t feel this way. It feels at the moment like it’s not legislation, it’s policy. They are 2 completely different things. Age verification for dangerous things, like alcohol, cigarettes and knives, is the law. Age verification for energy drinks and OTC medications is the company policy of many retailers, but it’s not the law. It winds me up no end when people try to say policies are law. It’s not illegal for someone over 25 to be here, and it’s not illegal for someone outside of the UK to be here, either. It’s outside of your own remit, so it’s policy, not law.
I wonder what things we've all agreed to in the very necessary consent form for the merger...
Re: Age Verification - Upcoming Change
I just feel like it's always one thing after another right now and soon enough there won't be anyone on the mix anymore which will be very sad to see. What happened to the whole community feel of things and what happened to actually listening to young people. It feels like both of those values have been chucked out of the window right now and pushed aside. Its very disappointing to see for a young persons mental health charity actually. I know that the actual mix community is working hard right now and I feel sorry for all the mods and staff on here who are trying their best right now despite certain higher ups clearly not doing their jobs properly and just deciding to make things worse on here. Firstly my main issue is to do with uploading a picture of yourself, there are a lot of vulnerable young people on here who may not want to take a photo of themselves because of certain reasons alongside staying anonymous. The reason why I joined this community was because it was anonymous whereas other support services weren't. It worries me to think what is next after the age verification, wanting our postcodes etc. This isn't right at all, in fact it's wrong to do. It's probably causing a lot of unnecessary stress for users right now alongside their main worries and concerns.
Also, I'd thought I'd share a bit of advice in a way from being a previous member of a charity in my town which supported neurodiverse adults which is now closed. Their CEO too left and a new CEO stepped in. Things started going down hill from there and previously a while ago too. The reason why the charity failed was because of a lack of communication and a lack of passion for the people attending the place. Hence, why it closed its door for good. Now your probably wondering why I am talking about a charity in my area and what's this got to do with this post. But let me tell you, I see the same pattern that happened with that charity with this one and I fear the same thing is going to happen eventually because of a poor lack of communication and passion for young people. So if you want to continue doing this then be prepared for a rocky road ahead thats all in saying. This is a young people's site and it should continue to help us by actually listening to us and making sure our voices are heard. Now I'm not asking for anything fancy from you buy what I am asking is that we are heard more and that users have more of a say so in some decisions on the boards especially mods as we are the ones using this service the most. Plus some people may not also have any ID either or passports etc so I don't know how the ID aspect would work for that. Plus I agree with you @independent_ on the whole AI analysing the age as it has been proven to be quite faulty and has analysed people wrongly especially when it comes to age. Also, anyone could technically upload a picture of someone else and use that, it doesn't stop people from catfishing, the same with the whole geofencing thing people can tick the yes box quite easily.
Overall, I fear for what the future of the mix will be (that's if there is a future for it as dark as that sounds I wouldent be suprised). However, us users need to continue to stick together and fight against this. Never stop amplifying your voices and this goes out to the community staff and mods here too as well because I know you have worked so hard.
Also, I'd thought I'd share a bit of advice in a way from being a previous member of a charity in my town which supported neurodiverse adults which is now closed. Their CEO too left and a new CEO stepped in. Things started going down hill from there and previously a while ago too. The reason why the charity failed was because of a lack of communication and a lack of passion for the people attending the place. Hence, why it closed its door for good. Now your probably wondering why I am talking about a charity in my area and what's this got to do with this post. But let me tell you, I see the same pattern that happened with that charity with this one and I fear the same thing is going to happen eventually because of a poor lack of communication and passion for young people. So if you want to continue doing this then be prepared for a rocky road ahead thats all in saying. This is a young people's site and it should continue to help us by actually listening to us and making sure our voices are heard. Now I'm not asking for anything fancy from you buy what I am asking is that we are heard more and that users have more of a say so in some decisions on the boards especially mods as we are the ones using this service the most. Plus some people may not also have any ID either or passports etc so I don't know how the ID aspect would work for that. Plus I agree with you @independent_ on the whole AI analysing the age as it has been proven to be quite faulty and has analysed people wrongly especially when it comes to age. Also, anyone could technically upload a picture of someone else and use that, it doesn't stop people from catfishing, the same with the whole geofencing thing people can tick the yes box quite easily.
Overall, I fear for what the future of the mix will be (that's if there is a future for it as dark as that sounds I wouldent be suprised). However, us users need to continue to stick together and fight against this. Never stop amplifying your voices and this goes out to the community staff and mods here too as well because I know you have worked so hard.
Amy22
5
Re: Age Verification - Upcoming Change
I completely agree with @Faolan and @shannon_164 on this one. Look, I have been here for a very very long time and it’s a community I’ve grown very close to. It’s, atm, my only support (we won’t go into the ethics of that, but it is). Yet I feel the changes are driving members like myself away. ATM, I am only still here because I have nowhere else to go. I won’t repeat the others, but the one thing I do want to say is that communication on all the changes has been really poor. Back in the old days, staff were on hand to answer our questions and reassure us. But now? We’ve waited nearly 2 weeks for answers to our questions on geofencing, how long will we have to wait for answers to our concerns about this?
Re: Age Verification - Upcoming Change
the mix should be listening to what the service users are saying and actually taking it onboard before there isn’t anyone left in the community - the way it’s going the mod availability issues resulting in chats being cancelled won’t even matter as there will be no one there to join the chats anyways lol
@shannon_164 unfortunately i feel like this is their goal. For everyone not
Happy with the change to leave, therefore getting rid of the old community and then they’re free to shape the mix into a completely different website.
They obviously have a very clear goal and it’s not one that has the community at the forefront of their mind. Our voices don’t matter, else we’d have been listened to when we first started telling them we were uncomfortable with the change. Simply, it’s their way or no way.
I feel so sorry for the staff & mods who have left and I can see clearly now why they did. They cared about us and what the mix once was 🩵
Faolan
5
Re: Age Verification - Upcoming Change
That seems to be the main concern here - that no other services are doing this. If other services were beginning to implement this as well, perhaps people wouldn’t feel this way. It feels at the moment like it’s not legislation, it’s policy. They are 2 completely different things. Age verification for dangerous things, like alcohol, cigarettes and knives, is the law. Age verification for energy drinks and OTC medications is the company policy of many retailers, but it’s not the law. It winds me up no end when people try to say policies are law. It’s not illegal for someone over 25 to be here, and it’s not illegal for someone outside of the UK to be here, either. It’s outside of your own remit, so it’s policy, not law.
(TW self harm) How can I prevent myself from relapsing?
People usually say that the best option is to identify your triggers and avoid them. But I literally can’t. Because my trigger is coworkers. My trigger is people in general who act like total pricks just because I’m not an attractive woman.
Usually when working on Saturdays and Sundays, I get two customers who happens to be friends with a coworker who used to harass me both at work and college. And now he’s got both of them to come for my ass since they can get away with it as customers. This is something I can’t avoid.
There’s been times where I would relapse because of them. And I’m worried it will happen again. And I can’t reach out to a manager, because they’ll have to call my family, whom aren’t great in regards to supporting me for my issues with self harm. Instead, they just yell at me, call me selfish, spoilt, etc. so I’m practically alone in this situation.
How can I prevent myself from relapsing when people are horrible to me?
Usually when working on Saturdays and Sundays, I get two customers who happens to be friends with a coworker who used to harass me both at work and college. And now he’s got both of them to come for my ass since they can get away with it as customers. This is something I can’t avoid.
There’s been times where I would relapse because of them. And I’m worried it will happen again. And I can’t reach out to a manager, because they’ll have to call my family, whom aren’t great in regards to supporting me for my issues with self harm. Instead, they just yell at me, call me selfish, spoilt, etc. so I’m practically alone in this situation.
How can I prevent myself from relapsing when people are horrible to me?
I seem to be a relationship therapist now 🤦♀️
Female K and boy k are meant to be in a relationship yet it’s not the most healthy relationship for them both and this is the second time I’ve had to sort there relationship because one of them (not pointing fingers) keeps screwing it up
So now I’m being a relationship therapist at 11pm tonight in a group chat apparently 💀
So now I’m being a relationship therapist at 11pm tonight in a group chat apparently 💀
Rose113
5
Re: The Mix and Mental Health Innovations come together to supercharge digital mental health support
you'll see some exciting improvements to our community spaces over the next little while. These improvements will focus on improving the quality of support from our services and accessibility which help more young people reach out for support as a form of early intervention.
Improvements? Nobody’s going to reach out for support now.
https://community.themix.org.uk/discussion/3606448/age-verification-upcoming-change
I’ll be leaving right away if this photo thing gets implemented for current users, but I doubt I’ll be staying much longer anyway. I need support, and having this place to reach out has been a big help to me. I’m so grateful for everything this site used to be. But it doesn’t seem like a safe place anymore. I’m putting off leaving but soon enough I’m just gonna have to learn to cope without it.
Re: Age Verification - Upcoming Change
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This is not the fault of the @TheMix community team. I imagine you guys are told what you can and can’t say. If even one of you feels the same way that we do I’m sorry. You guys are trying your best, and this is coming from much higher up but please, please answer our questions. I would also welcome a statement from whoever the new CEO is.
