Checking Your Location by Geofencing

TheMix · February 27

Hey everyone,

We wanted to let you know about a change you may notice when you next log in to our Discussion Boards. We’ve added a function called Geofencing which checks where a user is physically based. It will be going live shortly.

As you know, The Mix provides support for young people aged 13-25 living in the UK. For The Mix to be compliant, we have a legal requirement to verify the location of young people using our online services.

All you have to do is log in as normal. Then when you log in, you’ll see a pop up that asks “Are you currently in the UK?” It looks like this:

If you select “Yes”, you’re confirming you’re in the UK and you’ll be able to use our boards as normal.

If you select “No”, you’re confirming you’re not in the UK and won’t be able to post or react to posts.

The pop-up box will appear every time you log in to check you're currently in the UK whilst you use our Discussion Boards.

We’re here if you have any questions about this. You can either leave a response here, DM us, or send an email to community@themix.org.uk

The Mix Community Team

independent_ · February 27

I’m going to put the same question I asked last night up here too. The mix has been a UK service for the past 25 or so years, however long it has been around. So surely, if this is a major issue, we should have always been checking if someone was in the UK? And if not, I’m curious what the big change in legislation or whatever is that means we suddenly have to start checking now.

If it pops up every time, does this mean that people can’t use the boards while they’re on holiday if they happen to go abroad? That is if someone who is normally in the UK goes to Spain for a week they can’t use the boards for that week? I ask this because holidays can be tough at times, with family etc, and some people do need support. Is this not possible anymore without telling a porky pie and ticking the box?

Oh and also, what happens if someone is always signed in? If they use a device which is only their’s, and tick the box to keep them signed in, will it only ask if we sign out and back in again?

And for my NI and ROI friends, I’ll put this here for you. Hopefully it doesn’t exclude people in NI at all as it is part of the UK. But what about the ROI, Channel Islands etc?

Amy22 · February 27

independent_ wrote: »

I’m going to put the same question I asked last night up here too. The mix has been a UK service for the past 25 or so years, however long it has been around. So surely, if this is a major issue, we should have always been checking if someone was in the UK? And if not, I’m curious what the big change in legislation or whatever is that means we suddenly have to start checking now.

If it pops up every time, does this mean that people can’t use the boards while they’re on holiday if they happen to go abroad? That is if someone who is normally in the UK goes to Spain for a week they can’t use the boards for that week? I ask this because holidays can be tough at times, with family etc, and some people do need support. Is this not possible anymore without telling a porky pie and ticking the box?

Oh and also, what happens if someone is always signed in? If they use a device which is only their’s, and tick the box to keep them signed in, will it only ask if we sign out and back in again?

And for my NI and ROI friends, I’ll put this here for you. Hopefully it doesn’t exclude people in NI at all as it is part of the UK. But what about the ROI, Channel Islands etc?

I also second this as well too because one of my main concerns I guess is that as you said say if you did go away abroad on holiday and you needed to access the mix for any reason, the geofencing thing may stop UK residents on holiday being able to access their support.

One thing I may mention that is also as its pretty much a tick box option asking if your in the UK or not, this doesn't really stop anyone from telling a white lie and saying they are based in the UK when they could be from the EU or elsewhere etc. Having a tick box option is so easy because anyone can tick a box and say yes. Obviously I understand the guidelines because the uk will have different safeguarding regulations compared to the rest of the EU including ROI and NI. It's just concerning that it could excluding people from ROI and NI to be able access support that they need.

independent_ · February 27

It definitely shouldn’t exclude NI, as NI is part of the UK. So long as this is widely understood (I have heard stories of people in NI struggling to access UK services) it shouldn’t be an issue for people in NI. This was covered in the session last night but I think we were still waiting for more information on ROI and the Channel Islands.

I’m also going to assume that, as a registered charity in England, your policies and things are based on English law? I think someone pointed out as well that Scotland, Wales and NI have some very different legislation, so it’s worth making it clear to users in those countries (like me) if English law is what’s being used in safeguarding etc.

TheNightmare · February 27

[deleted]

shannon_164 · February 28

independent_ wrote: »

It definitely shouldn’t exclude NI, as NI is part of the UK. So long as this is widely understood (I have heard stories of people in NI struggling to access UK services) it shouldn’t be an issue for people in NI. This was covered in the session last night but I think we were still waiting for more information on ROI and the Channel Islands.

I’m also going to assume that, as a registered charity in England, your policies and things are based on English law? I think someone pointed out as well that Scotland, Wales and NI have some very different legislation, so it’s worth making it clear to users in those countries (like me) if English law is what’s being used in safeguarding etc.

pls don’t take this as 100% fact, just in case i’m wrong, but i think on chat on wednesday night it was stated that the mix are aware of legislation differences in england compared to northern ireland for example therefore they base it on individuals as opposed to one set thing as it will be different for me being in northern ireland compared to you being in scotland - i hope that makes some sense, ive confused myself trying to explain what i mean haha but they did definitely mention being aware of different legislation in different parts of the uk!

Katie · March 2

Hey everyone,

These are all really good questions and insights. We'll get back to you soon with some more information

Thank you for your patience in the meantime!

Rose113 · March 2

I had to log in on my laptop but it didn’t pop up with anything to confirm if I’m in the uk

shannon_164 · March 2

Rose113 wrote: »

I had to log in on my laptop but it didn’t pop up with anything to confirm if I’m in the uk

same - i have logged in a few times since friday and haven’t been asked to confirm i’m in the uk yet.

AnonymousToe · March 3

I didn’t even log in and I got it

independent_ · March 3

AnonymousToe wrote: »

I didn’t even log in and I got it

Me too @AnonymousToe! I’ve just had it now.

Which raises the question as I almost did this: what if someone presses no by accident 🤷‍♀️🤣 Is it just a case of log out and back in again?

independent_ · March 3

Am I seriously gonna have to click this every time I open safari on my phone to get on here .. or close the tab and then come back on? Been asked twice in 5 minutes 😱 I was in the UK 5 minutes ago, would be an epic short journey if I wasn’t now

Edit: 5 times in 10 minutes! This is just by opening and closing the tab. That would be some impressive teleportation skills if I wasn’t still right here in Scotland lol

eylah · March 4

its getting annoying having to keep pressing im in the uk. its not just when i log in its when im also logged in itself. just had 3 in 5 minutes.😅

independent_ · March 4

I must have pressed that I’m in the UK 20-25 times since last night. It keeps coming up even though I haven’t signed out just when I open safari (it’s soooooooo annoying!)

Katie · March 4

Ah it popping up multiple times does sound irritating. I'll feed this back and we'll look into it - bear with us folks!

@independent_ @eylah

independent_ · March 4

You mean to say you're immune and it's not pestering you @Katie?

thank you for passing it on, it's super annoying

Katie · March 6

Let me know how you're getting on with the pop ups today folks - is it the same?

Also I appreciate we haven't yet answered your questions above but they are coming! The team are writing up a summary after the Change Management Session last Wednesday and similar questions were asked. They'll be with you soon!

independent_ · March 6

@Katie its all but disappeared today, I’ve just noticed i haven’t had to click it for a while!

Katie · March 6

Yayy okay great @independent_ we had some work done on it last night so glad to hear it seems to not be popping up as much ! Let us know if anything changes - thank youuu

independent_ · March 6

Thinking about it it was last night it stopped doing it! Thank you for working on it. So should it just be when we sign in now?

Rose113 · March 6

@Katie im still getting it 🥲

eylah · March 6

its stopped for me.. thank god

eylah · March 7

never mind.. its happening again

shannon_164 · March 7

for me, im asked multiple times, like every single time i go off the mix website and back on (remaining logged in btw) it asks then it won’t ask me for hours on end then suddenly asks me a million times again lol

independent_ · March 7

It’s done it a couple of times to me, when i first went on my laptop and then when I switched back to my phone, but other than that it’s peaceful around here (at least from a geofencing perspective)

Faolan · March 7

I’ve a question regarding this. I live in ROI, I have a ROI passport but my mam lives in the north of Ireland. I’m a minor and visit my mam daily . How would this work for me? The Irish border is invisible, I can step in and out of the UK in no time.

I don’t care for the mix anymore and wont be using the community really but I still log in to talk to my friends occasionally.

This can also easily be bypassed by lying or using a vpn. It’s like a door made of tissue paper.

Rose113 · March 8

Why is it only asking me at night

is it finding me suspicious for not sleeping and being on boards at 1am

Sian321 · March 8

Hi everyone - I appreciate there had been some questions about what happens if you accidentally answer 'No' to 'Are you in the UK?' when in fact, you are.

If this does happen, please don't fret! You can email us directly at community@themix.org.uk and we will work to resolve this for you.

You won't get locked out of your account if you are indeed in the UK when you're using the service

Hope this helps!

Loz · March 11

The pop up appears every time I go on here even though I'm still logged in it's becoming quite frustrating. I'm using desktop.

Loz · March 13

I don't understand this new thing at all and how this pop up proves you're in the UK. Someone could press yes to that and they're not from the UK.

Sian321 · March 16

Hey @Loz , thank you for your posts, and I hear you. We're sorry that it's been popping up each time, but unfortunately, that's how the system is working at the moment. I appreciate it's really frustrating.

I don't understand this new thing at all and how this pop up proves you're in the UK. Someone could press yes to that and they're not from the UK.

We hope for people to answer honestly!

Checking Your Location by Geofencing

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