How many sites still have comments?

[londrum]

Just wondering how many sites still persevere with user comments on their site.
I've tried various things over the years, Wordpress's inbuilt comments, Facebook, Disqus, and now a custom built one, but it seems that people just don't like to comment as much as they used to, or maybe they don't have the patience for it, because they want Instant answers

[tangor]

...because they want Instant answers

Merely an indication that the age of "users" these days equates to nickles and dimes (ie. YOUNG) with attention spans of gnats.

ON THE OTHER HAND user generated content (UGC) has long been deprecated by search engines of all kinds, including g, for near a decade.

As to how many sites? Personally gave up on forum/comment about 15 years back. Most was bot generated or spam and I simply ran out of energy. At the same time I also came to the conclusion that SANS A TRUE COMMUNITY, such as found here at Webmasterworld with constantly moderated UGC, was a time sink often of low value.

YMMV

[graeme_p]

User generated content is also now legally problematic if you are in the UK or if you have a UK audience - there are compliance costs and a need to monitor and have policies, thanks to the Online Safety Act.

[londrum]

just checked, and it doesn't apply if all they can do is add text comments and emojis under content you've created yourself, and have control over, and you monitor the comments for harassment etc (i've got a word filter that's about a bazillion words long!)

if users can upload their own content, like videos and images, and comment under that, then it's more problematic

[graeme_p]

@londrum yes it does depend, and text comments on blogs are probably OK. I am less clear about text only forums but it does look they are OK too. I am not sure what happens if text contains links to images or video.

There are also suggestions it can include comments if they are off-topic or replies to other comments: [theregister.com...]

The Act does not seem to say clearly it only applies to video, and the explainer seems to suggest it includes text and specifically says in includes forums: [gov.uk...]

So with a blog you will have to only allow approved comments. I makes running a forum or a wiki in the UK a lot more expensive and risky.

[londrum]

Luckily I only ever allow text under my own articles. No links or images or even emojis.
But it does sound like another dumb law like that GDPR one. They think they're doing good but it probably doesn't help anyone at all, it just annoys businesses

[lucy24]

If someone wants to comment on, or ask a question about, something on my site, they can drop me an email. (Sometimes they actually do, which on a small site is enormously gratifying.) There's something awfully depressing about online articles that wind up with three scattered comments dated at various times over the last decade.

[graeme_p]

@londrum its even worse for community sites. If you are doing something not-for-profit like run a local forum or a hobby forum or whatever the cost has gone from a small amount of hosting plus some of your time to upfront legal expenses, maybe incorporating to shield against liability, etc. and more of your time to manage all this. Ofcom says the amounts are negligible because it can all be done for just a few thousand pounds. Fine if you have a business reason for doing it, but not for profit forums are shutting down, and I have been put off setting one up myself

[Kendo]

"Reviews" should be the next thing to go, and they should be removed from Apple Store and Google Play too.

The only reviews that we ever see are from competitors because those that enjoy the product moved on to enjoy it. But we also see the gnats (mentioned previously) that think they are doing us a favour by giving 3 out of 5 stars!

[explorador]

Just wondering how many sites still persevere with user comments on their site.

I don't anymore. Like you, tried some online services, also built my own comment tool for my system. By the way, my main website also had a forum.

I didn't like the experience, this is at least... what happened:

• Lots of people stop reading once they see a comment box, they jump right away to ask what they want, even if the information is posted on the article[/li]
  
• Lots of people demand answers, as if this was a paid service with time limit
  
• I disliked being "corrected", you know... when people disagree with the research or official info you gathered, let's say "gravity", and so they post complains because they fell on the stairs yesterday, and so, the government should ban gravity (I'm joking but it's the reflection of reality)
  
• Lots of people confuse the articles with "I work for the brand" or "I made the product", and so, they complain directly with me, or try to trash my website because they think it's responsible of whatever experience they had
  
• Lots of poorly written comments
  
• Why answering? you know... lots of people who ask the questions or post comments, don't have the brains to understand the answers, and they will get upset after understanding the wrong meaning
  
• Lots of stupid requests: -send me more info- What? about what? what for? why?
  

But mostly: what's the benefit?, I honestly didn't see any benefit allowing comments, instead, it turned into extra work moderating garbage, and even bots (they get more clever every day).

[tangor]

@explorado:

Nailed it!

The only "ugc" I still allow is mail-lists and newsletters. Of the mail-lists only ONE is interactive where the members can write to one or many (the list). These are offered on the WEB and require a double opt-in, but are NOT WEB-FACING. For example: Ofcom can't see these.

As for how many sites still have comments? Quite a few. Particularly news and entertainment. Guess what, I never see them since my script blockers kill 'em off (and good riddance!). If it is third party, and most comment sections are, they disappear and reduce yet one more invasive attack vector.

[Edge]

We have a forum, however the first three posts are moderated before we publish... then we grant trust. Everything needs be looked at going forward however this policy has not benefited traffic in general.

[mcneely]

Just wondering how many sites still persevere with user comments on their site.

You can only comment on a topic/post for up to 30 days before comments on the particular topic/post are shut -

People who want to leave a comment are also required to register before leaving a comment - first comment is moderated

[londrum]

I got rid of mine in the end. I just link back to my content on social media and people can discuss it there if they want

[Kendo]

I see that Schema for "discussion forums" is assessed. Posts in discussions forums are no different to "comments".
So how can there be a difference?

[explorador]

I see that Schema for "discussion forums" is assessed. Posts in discussions forums are no different to "comments".
So how can there be a difference?

Huge difference. First for readers, and second to SE's.

A discussion forum is made for that, people will post whatever stuff they have in their heads, be it positive, negative, right, or wrong. Many will not discuss anything or ask questions, instead they post statements, affirmations of whatever, and personal attacks.

A website has it's own personality and usually a predefined direction, some people will post comments absolutely on topic, but many will try to hijack your audience with spam and political statements. This is not much difference than school classrooms where a teacher wants you to learn about math and science, but then someone constantly tries to disguise personal attacks as questions only to contaminate and hijack your audience.

Moderation is always needed, but it's different for forums vs something fully yours with a personal projection (even without your name).

It's very easy to have lots of people posting on your site "you are wrong" just because somehow they think something in there offended them, or it's somehow wrong.

[Kendo]

So there is no real difference between a forum post and comments added to an article?