“Users reading now” pop up message

[MEmama]

Is there a way to turn this off? And to opt out of others seeing us?

Sorry mods, but this is super creepy.

[Ann.without.an.e]

I almost started this post so thank you for doing it. I do not like this at all. 😭😭😭

Edited August 30, 2022 by Ann.without.an.e

[purpleowl]

Agreed! It also shows users who are typing comments. 

I did go into my settings and to the security & privacy section, where I was able to choose "hide my online status." I assume that means I am not showing up on these lists, but I don't know for sure. @Helpdesk?

[Jean in Newcastle]

50 minutes ago, purpleowl said:

Agreed! It also shows users who are typing comments. 

I did go into my settings and to the security & privacy section, where I was able to choose "hide my online status." I assume that means I am not showing up on these lists, but I don't know for sure. @Helpdesk?

Thanks for saying this. I have now done this. Can you still see me?  

[Ann.without.an.e]

2 minutes ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

Thanks for saying this. I have now done this. Can you still see me?  

I know you didn’t ask me but I was wondering the same thing. Can you see me? I don’t currently see you 

[Grace Hopper]

1 hour ago, purpleowl said:

Agreed! It also shows users who are typing comments. 

I did go into my settings and to the security & privacy section, where I was able to choose "hide my online status." I assume that means I am not showing up on these lists, but I don't know for sure. @Helpdesk?

Are these settings for your device or specific to this forum? I can’t find a settings option on my account using my phone - maybe it’s only visible via computer screen? If by phone, please tell me how to find the settings feature. 

[purpleowl]

At present I see "1 other user is here" but I can't see that user's name, so I am guessing it's someone who has done the "hide my online status" thing.

@Grace Hopper, give me just a minute and I will post screenshots for how to get there on a phone.

[Indigo Blue]

On the main chat page, this thread just shows “2 users here” with no name. On other threads, it still shows names. Just now, I could see the name of someone currently typing. I haven’t changed my setting. If someone can see me, let me know. Then I’ll go change it and wait to see if you can still me. 

[purpleowl]

@Indigo Blue I could see you typing. Could you see my name, on the thread or typing?

[Indigo Blue]

It wasn’t you that I could see. Can you see that I’m in this thread up at the top of the page right now? @purpleowl

and no I can’t see you at the top

Edited August 30, 2022 by Indigo Blue

[purpleowl]

Just now, Indigo Blue said:

It wasn’t you that I could see. Can you see that I’m in this thread up at the top of the page right now? @purpleowl

Yes, I can see your username at the top of the page.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Just now, Indigo Blue said:

It wasn’t you that I could see. Can you see that I’m in this thread up at the top of the page right now? @purpleowl

I can see your name listed. And “one other user”. 

[Indigo Blue]

@Jean in Newcastle. @purpleowl. Going to see if I can figure out how to change. Might take a few minutes.

[purpleowl]

Let me post this and see if it puts the screenshots in the right order...

Okay, yes, order looks correct. Sorry the images are huge! I circled what to tap at each step. After you click "Security and Privacy," it will prompt you to enter your password again, and then just choose the option to hide your online status.

 

 

Edited August 30, 2022 by purpleowl

[Indigo Blue]

@Jean in Newcastle  @purpleowl I did it. Am I now hidden?

[purpleowl]

Just now, Indigo Blue said:

@Jean in Newcastle  @purpleowl I did it. Am I now hidden?

I only see "1 other user" here, so I think yes. 🙂 

[Indigo Blue]

Just now, purpleowl said:

I only see "1 other user" here, so I think yes. 🙂 

Good, then hopefully this will do it. 

[Spryte]

26 minutes ago, purpleowl said:

Let me post this and see if it puts the screenshots in the right order...

Okay, yes, order looks correct. Sorry the images are huge! I circled what to tap at each step. After you click "Security and Privacy," it will prompt you to enter your password again, and then just choose the option to hide your online status.

 

 

Thank you for this. 

I hope it worked!

This is a really creepy feature, yikes.

[Helpdesk]

It's a new feature of the system that was delivered.  I just got word about some of the new features.  Apparently, many groups clamour for this feature, but as this community seems not to, I will see what can be done. It's as new to me as it is to you, so please be patient, and use the workaround.  Thanks. --Helpdesk

[Jean in Newcastle]

In the past, people could see what you were doing, but it wasn’t as obvious. I had a stalker here though that made it very obvious to me. I had my settings marked as “hidden “ iin the past but obviously this new feature overrode that setting but I am glad that I can reset it. 

[Helpdesk]

56 minutes ago, purpleowl said:

I only see "1 other user" here, so I think yes. 🙂 

And it's probably ME.  --Helpdesk

[melmichigan]

I am seeing user names.  I had this blocked before, so it definitely overrode current settings.

Edited August 30, 2022 by melmichigan

[Helpdesk]

The tech support team changed the universal setting on our system so this issue should be resolved.  AND I'm glad that I had a reminder to look at my own privacy settings...I had them set up the way I wanted them in my civilian account, but forgot to take care of it on my admin account.  Thanks to PurpleOwl upthread for posting the screenshots that show how to get to the Privacy settings.  That saved me a bunch of work! 🙂

[MEmama]

23 minutes ago, Helpdesk said:

It's a new feature of the system that was delivered.  I just got word about some of the new features.  Apparently, many groups clamour for this feature, but as this community seems not to, I will see what can be done. It's as new to me as it is to you, so please be patient, and use the workaround.  Thanks. --Helpdesk

Thank you for looking into it.

Unfortunately if this feature stays, I for one will not be able to. I don’t expect anonymity but this is entirely unsettling. 

[Helpdesk]

Please see the message directly before your post.  🙂

[Pawz4me]

Shrug. I changed my settings (thanks so much for posting, @purpleowl) but it doesn't bother me. I've been on many other message boards, and helped moderate one, that had the feature and nobody ever voiced any objections.

[melmichigan]

22 minutes ago, Helpdesk said:

The tech support team changed the universal setting on our system so this issue should be resolved.  AND I'm glad that I had a reminder to look at my own privacy settings...I had them set up the way I wanted them in my civilian account, but forgot to take care of it on my admin account.  Thanks to PurpleOwl upthread for posting the screenshots that show how to get to the Privacy settings.  That saved me a bunch of work! 🙂

Still seeing it. It also tells who is typing a response, and lets you check who's active in what threads from the homepage. Weird.

Edited August 30, 2022 by melmichigan

[Helpdesk]

OK.  Following up.  --Helpdesk

[KSera]

1 hour ago, melmichigan said:

lets you check who's active in what threads from the homepage. Weird.

There’s for a long time been a version of this where you could look at an activity feed that showed who is doing what. Or if you clicked on someone’s username it would tell you what thread they were viewing. Which was always a little weird for me as well.

[Helpdesk]

So, for now there is no system-wide switch to turn this off.  I posted instructions in the SITE NEWS forum to tell users how to change their privacy settings.  I have asked the system provider to find a way to make this a system-wide on/off switch but in the meantime, it's up to individual users to set their privacy to suit their wishes.  

@KSera is correct, upthread. There's always been a way to see who is doing what. The current update makes it more obvious.  The privacy setting will take care of that, too, at least on the individual name situation.

One of the annoyances of modern life, I guess...but a reminder (at least to me) to check my privacy settings on all my social media.  Thanks for the heads-up, everyone.  I'll leave this thread unlocked in case it helps anyone to complain, but unless there's a new issue, I'll not be following along. 

 

[KungFuPanda]

6 hours ago, purpleowl said:

Let me post this and see if it puts the screenshots in the right order...

Okay, yes, order looks correct. Sorry the images are huge! I circled what to tap at each step. After you click "Security and Privacy," it will prompt you to enter your password again, and then just choose the option to hide your online status.

 

 

THANK YOU

[Scarlett]

5 hours ago, Pawz4me said:

Shrug. I changed my settings (thanks so much for posting, @purpleowl) but it doesn't bother me. I've been on many other message boards, and helped moderate one, that had the feature and nobody ever voiced any objections.

Right? I am rather gobsmacked that everyone seems so upset by it.  I rather like it.  

[Jean in Newcastle]

10 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

Right? I am rather gobsmacked that everyone seems so upset by it.  I rather like it.  

I don’t know that I am upset per se. I mean, obviously people can figure out that I am on the forums and posting from the actual time stamps on my posts. And saying  that XYZ person is on the forum or even reading a specific post  can be deceptive because I keep this forum open on a tab all the time so it can look like I am “there” when I am not. I found it more distracting than anything when I first saw it. And like I said, I had a person try to stalk me based on my posts on this forum so I just feel more comfortable changing my settings. Though trolls can always troll….

[Indigo Blue]

15 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

Right? I am rather gobsmacked that everyone seems so upset by it.  I rather like it.  

I’m sorta neutral on it, but slightly prefer not to do it that way. I could live with it either way. 

[Guest]

Thanks so much @purpleowl! 
 

 

[purpleowl]

My issue is mainly that I find it really distracting, with the names/number of users updating all the time. I also have a tendency to type out lengthy responses and then talk myself out of posting them. I don't like the idea of people watching me type and then wondering why my comment never materialized. 😄 

 

Edited August 30, 2022 by purpleowl

[stephanier.1765]

29 minutes ago, purpleowl said:

My issue is mainly that I find it really distracting, with the names/number of users updating all the time. I also have a tendency to type out lengthy responses and then talk myself out of posting them. I don't like the idea of people watching me type and then wondering why my comment never materialized. 😄 

 

I do that all the time too! Whew, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one.

[Indigo Blue]

I think what’s funny is when you look up top at the list of whose here, you can see the lurkers. All names I’ve never seen. 😬

Totally fine, just never could see it til now. 

[Scarlett]

34 minutes ago, purpleowl said:

My issue is mainly that I find it really distracting, with the names/number of users updating all the time. I also have a tendency to type out lengthy responses and then talk myself out of posting them. I don't like the idea of people watching me type and then wondering why my comment never materialized. 😄 

 

 

4 minutes ago, stephanier.1765 said:

I do that all the time too! Whew, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one.

Lol I on the other hand just post. I rarely consider the out come 

[Indigo Blue]

Just now, Scarlett said:

 

Lol I on the other hand just post. I rarely consider the out come 

And I’m like, oh, shouldn’t have said that…shouldn’t have said that…..

[stephanier.1765]

5 minutes ago, Indigo Blue said:

And I’m like, oh, shouldn’t have said that…shouldn’t have said that…..

For me, it's more...nobody is interested in that, what value does this add to the thread...classic overthinking.

[Indigo Blue]

Just now, stephanier.1765 said:

For me, it's more...nobody is interested in that, what value does this add to the thread...classic overthinking.

Yes. We need that t shirt that says

Hold on, let me overthink this…

[Scarlett]

4 minutes ago, Indigo Blue said:

Yes. We need that t shirt that says

Hold on, let me overthink this…

Mine should say ‘let me think this through’ 

[Pawz4me]

Right now I see “2 other users is also here.”

I’m no grammar fanatic, but that’s difficult to look at. 

[KidsHappen]

12 hours ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

In the past, people could see what you were doing, but it wasn’t as obvious. I had a stalker here though that made it very obvious to me. I had my settings marked as “hidden “ iin the past but obviously this new feature overrode that setting but I am glad that I can reset it. 

Well darn, I have been hidden for years. Bummed that this new feature undid this and that I have to go hide myself again. Thanks to the pp that poster the tutorial.

[2ndGenHomeschooler]

12 hours ago, purpleowl said:

My issue is mainly that I find it really distracting, with the names/number of users updating all the time. I also have a tendency to type out lengthy responses and then talk myself out of posting them. I don't like the idea of people watching me type and then wondering why my comment never materialized. 😄 

 

This is me! I type and delete responses more often than I actually post anything. In fact I just it this morning and wondered what people might be thinking once I decided just to delete the whole thing. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

3 hours ago, 2ndGenHomeschooler said:

This is me! I type and delete responses more often than I actually post anything. In fact I just it this morning and wondered what people might be thinking once I decided just to delete the whole thing. 

I've already gotten to the point where I don't even think about the names.  The most I think about them is late at night when I think "oh, I didn't know that other people are up too!"  But I am certainly not noting who's typing on a thread and then looking for their post.  The novelty has worn off!