Big sad forum news - Online Safety Act

[Maz]

This is not good news. As some of you know, the new Online Safety Act comes into force on 17th March.

While this forum is perfectly safe with excellent software etc, there are now new legal requirements to comply with.

I have been trying to achieve this and it's just not possible. I am just unable to achieve the compliancy required for this Act. I would probably need a lawyer and team of experts to be able to fully comply with everything. Additionally I would need to install a legally acceptable method of age verification - I was quoted £200 a month for that. That just isn't doable.

I have read all the huge documents which are extremely complicated in places - once was 84 pages, one was 450 pages. Another two huge documents on age verification and child safety assessments. I had started to complete the very lengthy risk assessments document (took two hours) before I realised I couldn't meet the compliancy.

I didn't mind the amount of paperwork and the annual reviews of paperwork each year. Keeping annual records, updating risk assessments and writing a policy document. I would do all that. It is just I can't actually comply with all the requirements - in particular legal age verification.

Even if I had managed to meet compliancy the forum would not have been the same. It would have meant removing the option for direct messaging. Restricting the forum to over 18's. Additional moderators. And a lot of other complicated things.

I was determined not to let all this bureacracy beat me. But it has. I'm sorry. I am not going to be able to make the forum compliant for the new laws.

It seems quite unbelievable - so much work put into this forum - the software, the styling, the functionality. All the photos. And of course all we members and our interactions on here.

This means I am going to have to close the forum. Which is why it all seems unbelievable. There are quite a lot of forums closing down as a result of these new legal requirements, for the same reasons.

It will not be the same by any means but I'm suggesting everyone joins Instagram and follows our account on Instagram instead. The Instagram account is now called Hamster Hub and my username is maz_hamster_hub We can follow each other and message on there and see each others individual posts and share our hammy photos and updates still. (Hamster Hub is also the name of my youtube channel).
This is the link to the Instagram Account - make a note of it please! https://www.instagram.com/maz_hamster_hub/

I am absolutely heartbroken! I spend a lot of my life on here and set everything up from scratch and love our little group.

I am not going to close it down until 16th March (in 2 days time). That is the date by which compliance has to be met.

This new compliance seems to me, intended to get rid of smaller forums like ours and only be geared to large companies. Presumably the idea is that it will make internet safety much easier to monitor if there are less small forums to keep an eye on.

I was prepared to do all the extra work and prepared to take the risk of enforcement if I didn't keep it up as well. Incidentally there is an 18 million pound fine for non compliance! It is a really huge piece of legislation.

I will turn direct messaging back on and message as many people as possible to let them know to go to Instagram.

Meanwhile I need to download all the articles - there is so much information in them. Not sure where they can be accessed in future - I'll have a think about that.

But I hope everyone will come to the Instagram account. You can access Instagram on computer as well as phone. Which is what I do as I prefer using a computer.

I am so sorry this has happened

 

[Lily Bloom]

that’s really sad but i completely understand. i will still stay in touch and i will continue sending you cheesy’s pictures.

 

[Lily Bloom]

i love this forum and i am really grateful to be a part of it till the end.

 

[Maz]

i love this forum and i am really grateful to be a part of it till the end.

Oh thank you and I'm so sorry. That just made me cry! I think we can carry some of it across.

 

[Socks' Mum]

We have such an utterly wonderful, safe and unique community, it is so unfair we are being driven out of our home. But I fully support any decision you make Maz, and I would not want you to take any risks at all. The fine is awful and very frightening. I will open the Instagram site. It is a horrible, sudden shock and very hurtful. I hope you are dealing with it OK Maz, it must be awful for you. There is no other choice though. Incredibly sad for you and all the wonderful wonderful people on this lovely site

 

[Maz]

Thank you. I'm in shock! I started out thinking - well we can just cancel direct messaging (it can't be monitored for safety). And raise the age limit - and then there was so much more.

In case anyone doesn't want to go to Instagram (and I know it won't be quite the same but we can still share our hammy photos and stories and link up), does anyone have any suggestion as to another way we could stay in contact online? Without giving out email addresses? I'm thinking for those people who don't want to or can't manage Instagram perhaps.

I'm going to try and see if I can set some kind of forwarding page to come up when the forum goes offline.

 

[Steve]

This is such terrible news, I'm so sorry Maz.
I fully appreciate, and it's impossible not to support the aim of this legislation as well all know there is so much terrible content online. However, I can't help but be angry (putting it politely) that in the process it's sweeping up such brilliant, informative, and perfectly safe communities like this in the process.
I have spent the past couple of hours reading up as much as I can about the changes, and I completely understand why you have come to this decision. It seems almost impossible for small organisations to meet these requirements and protect themselves.
I am still hoping this is all a mistake to be honest, but should the close of the forum be reality I wanted to say thank you Maz for everything you have done. This is a truly brilliant community you and other hard working, dedicated and caring people have built and you should be genuinely proud. I have not only learnt a lot, but have loved seeing everyone's gorgeous little friends and hearing about them.
I for one will miss this forum very much. If this is the end, take care everyone and I hope you and your hammy's stay safe and well.

 

[Maz]

Thank you. Yes they could have made it easier for smaller communities. It seems a bit rushed. I hope you and Hank will keep some connection. At the moment all I can think of is everyone connecting on Instagram, but I might have another idea when I've had some sleep!

I have to close the site before the 17th or be in non compliance.

The site provided so much information for people as well as being a community. I'm in the process of downloading all the articles.

You and Hank have been a great support too. Are you thinking of getting another Hamster at all?

 

[Steve]

I'm sure we will at some point, there are too many hamsters out there that need a nice home, but not just yet.
The loss of resources will be very sad. My knowledge Is limited I'm afraid but is it possible to keep some elements of the website open (the resources for example) but close the forum elements that allow us to post?

 

[Maz]

This is such terrible news, I'm so sorry Maz.
I fully appreciate, and it's impossible not to support the aim of this legislation as well all know there is so much terrible content online. However, I can't help but be angry (putting it politely) that in the process it's sweeping up such brilliant, informative, and perfectly safe communities like this in the process.
I have spent the past couple of hours reading up as much as I can about the changes, and I completely understand why you have come to this decision. It seems almost impossible for small organisations to meet these requirements and protect themselves.
I am still hoping this is all a mistake to be honest, but should the close of the forum be reality I wanted to say thank you Maz for everything you have done. This is a truly brilliant community you and other hard working, dedicated and caring people have built and you should be genuinely proud. I have not only learnt a lot, but have loved seeing everyone's gorgeous little friends and hearing about them.
I for one will miss this forum very much. If this is the end, take care everyone and I hope you and your hammy's stay safe and well.

It affects US forums as well if they have any UK members. Some are saying they are going to block all Uk members so they don't have to comply with the legislation. But as you say, the intention is good to get rid of the dangers on the internet. It just could have been done better I think.

 

[Maz]

I'm sure we will at some point, there are too many hamsters out there that need a nice home, but not just yet.
The loss of resources will be very sad. My knowledge Is limited I'm afraid but is it possible to keep some elements of the website open (the resources for example) but close the forum elements that allow us to post?

I don't have any alternative now really. If I don't close it by the 17th I'll be in breach of the legislation.

I wondered about keeping the home page but that is still somewhere people can interact. Unless I can just stop all interaction somehow. I've downloaded all the articles but not sure where else I could put them right now. I'll look into that when my brain wakes up.

Although I can't keep the home page without the forum. The home page is an addon to the forum unfortunately.

 

[Hank]

This is really sad news and I am truly sorry. However I completely understand why this needs to be done.
This site has helped so many people, and I believe given so many hamsters a better life. The help and support on this group was so valuable. Knowing that there was one place to get accurate and helpful advice and support, was game changing. Through the good times and the sad, everyone was always there.
I feel like I'm losing a group of friends, I will miss the update from Socks' adventures, hearing about what Blossom had chewed today and if course whether Tino or Higgins have decided to come out.
Steve is right Maz, you should be so proud of what you have accomplished.
I'll keep looking to see if there is any other way as well.
And thank you, knowing that my little girl had a better life, because of what you created and with everyone's help I am and will forever be truly thankful.

 

[Maz]

More info here

Note to No 10: one speed doesn’t fit all when it comes to online safety | John Naughton

Legislation to protect children in the digital realm is essential. But if it results in the loss of small cycling and cancer-care forums, something’s gone wrong

www.theguardian.com

 

[Maz]

This is really sad news and I am truly sorry. However I completely understand why this needs to be done.
This site has helped so many people, and I believe given so many hamsters a better life. The help and support on this group was so valuable. Knowing that there was one place to get accurate and helpful advice and support, was game changing. Through the good times and the sad, everyone was always there.
I feel like I'm losing a group of friends, I will miss the update from Socks' adventures, hearing about what Blossom had chewed today and if course whether Tino or Higgins have decided to come out.
Steve is right Maz, you should be so proud of what you have accomplished.
I'll keep looking to see if there is any other way as well.
And thank you, knowing that my little girl had a better life, because of what you created and with everyone's help I am and will forever be truly thankful.

I'm hoping we can keep the friends in one place But the forum itself will be like a lost friend I think.

 

[Maz]

Just a note about content. If anyone wants to save any of their posts from their threads, you'll need to copy and paste the posts into word I'm afraid. To save any photos, just right click on them and save them.

 

[Coco61]

I am so sorry and upset as well that you have been forced into this Maz.
While understanding the reasoning behind the legislation, it is disappointing that small forums like here are being crushed by the new compliance rules.
My huge thanks for all that you have done Maz to create and maintain The Hamster Forum. Everyone here has greatly benefitted from it and will be saddened by its loss.

 

[Maz]

Just a note about content. If anyone wants to save any of their posts from their threads, you'll need to copy and paste the posts into word I'm afraid. To save any photos, just right click on them and save them.

Edit - you can print them as pdf's . If you want to save a whole thread (eg your Hamster's thread) then go to the start of the thread on a computer, select file - print. Then save as pdf. It saves the whole first page of the thread including photos. But it will only do one forum page at a time.

So you have to repeat that for every page of the thread.

 

[Jain]

I'm hoping we can keep the friends in one place But the forum itself will be like a lost friend I think.

Yes I agree I will miss popping in and out and smiling at the photos and seeing familiar names posting plus this forum was invaluable to me in the early days of hamster "parenting" so I would like to say a massive thank you to Maz for all her work, diligence and friendly manner running a really wonderful site. x jain

 

[hamster lover 123]

This is such sad news Thank you very much, Maz, for running the forum and giving me advice for Toni & Dora! I will definitely miss looking at hammy photos and news whenever I come on here.

 

[Eriathwen]

This is such a terrible shame, I will be on Instagram as long as I'm allowed.. I, alongside a large number of other group admins, were banned from Facebook and in spite of appealing, were told to get a lawyer if we didn't like it.. so my participation on meta platforms is limited. But I would hate to lose contact with you all, so I'll follow on Instagram.

It is such a shame all the articles will no longer be out there for people to read, it's such a good source of up to date information! The Facebook guinea pig group I used to admin for, prior to the ban, is setting up a website to move all the articles and information we published into, so it is still available to the public. I wonder if that would be an option for all your hard work?? I must admit I don't understand the new legislation and all the fine details so maybe not.

Either way, thankyou for all the hard work you put into making this forum what it was, kind, informative, inclusive..a real community. I will most definitely miss it when it's gone.