Hubpages Social Media Community

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   WryLiltposted 7 weeks ago

   I joined Hubpages almost 15 years ago, and experienced many changes here, but it's always been one of my favourite sites to use and recommend for those getting started in online writing.
   
   Sadly, from the recent emails I've received, I can see that Hubages is slowly phasing out community writing. Although I still see a payout every couple of months, I know that this is no longer the type of site that can survive and monetise well, thanks to the slow downfall of Google search quality and rise of low quality AI content; however I'm still nostalgic for the good old days with millions of views and hundreds of dollars.
   
   Is anyone planning to start a Social Media community? I'd love a place (perhaps a Facebook group) where Hubpages expats can perhaps share updates about what they're up to, what opportunities they see, and how they've grown thanks to the site. There are a few groups around, but they're mostly dead or spam.

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      chef-de-jourposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

      Bluesky?

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         jansharesposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

         +1

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         SerenityHaloposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

         I’m willing to try Bluesky. I’ve been interested in it, just haven’t had the push to create an account.

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      Kenna McHughposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

      I am interested!

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      ChitrangadaSharanposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

      Many of us have the same sentiments. Miss the good old times of HubPages

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      Miebakagh57posted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

      It seems hubpages has a social community on facebonk?                                      I attempted to join, but the move was not successfull.

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   theraggededgeposted 7 weeks ago

   I wouldn't mind joining a community but won't do Facebook.

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   Peggy Wposted 7 weeks ago

   Many of us miss the good old days at Hubpages.

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4. 67

   PaulGoodman67posted 7 weeks ago

   It would need to be a private space within a social media site, something like a Facebook group, as you say. It wouldn't work if it's in the general posting.
   
   To be honest, I've not really found the forums very useful or interesting in the years since Samatha's community engagement role was discontinued. Full engagement by the staff was crucial for me.
   
   I also get a bit weary that the forums here now are mainly made up of:
   
   1. Spam
   2. Writers, often non-English speakers, seeking very basic advice or help, things like beginner's English grammar or info that's easily available by looking in the Help.
   3. Writers seeking help who are plagiarists or AI users.
   4. Nostalgic posts about features that TAG discontinued years ago. I just don't see any point in that. I don't see the comments feature or whatever coming back, and I'm generally wary of nostalgia.
   
   I'm not an idealist, there was always more fluff than useful stuff on here, and obviously, people can post whatever they like. I just rarely find anything useful here now.
   
   My main concern, and reason for still coming here, is that I'll lose my articles if I stop. An announcement will be made that will have negative effects and I won't see it until too late.
   
   I'm not sure that a social media group would be any better. Especially as it was the HP staff engagement that I generally found most useful thing about the forums here.
   
   I learned a lot in the early years here and am grateful for that.

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5. 67

   PaulGoodman67posted 7 weeks ago

   Bluesky is a politically liberal version of X/Twitter, where you write short, paragraph-length posts. I've been a member there for some time.
   
   I don't believe that there are groups there like Facebook. Everything just goes into the public domain. So I believe it would be more like tweeting something than being in the HP forum. The only way to have any control/separation would be through things like hashtags.
   
   To me, a "forum" (in the HP sense) is something different. More of a group of people discussing a set subject area.

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      chef-de-jourposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

      Yes, Bluesky offers the chance to participate in commentary and to reply to others, it's not strictly speaking the trad forum space but interaction can take place nonetheless. You're limited to 300 characters per post but chaining is possible.
      So far Bluesky is politically, shall I say, clean?
      
      Bluesky could be a temporary 'airing space' where news, views and ideas are out there for those who feel the need. It's an option I guess.
      
      I don't know of any other site with forum potential that isn't politically suspect? Then again I'm not sitesavvy.

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         PaulGoodman67posted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

         The Bluesky advocates should join Bluesky and demonstrate what they mean. I'm happy to follow.
         
         Reddit might be a better option, though. It's designed for discussions, and groups can be created.

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            chef-de-jourposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

            Reddit, isn't that the site for select, young trendy dudes? I've heard of it but have never looked into what it has to offer. Could be another space for news and views as you suggest.
            
            In truth I'm still in shock from TAG's latest move and looking for some consolation or whatever the word is. I think many writers, veterans, were in denial about the state of the niche sites but now reality has hit home there's a need to share space for future dialogue, be it snippets, news, advice etc etc
            
            As an aside, I get a 404 number when I click on my email link to this forum. Is that the norm now for everyone here at HP?

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            1. 67

               PaulGoodman67posted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

               "In truth I'm still in shock from TAG's latest move"
               
               I believe that TAG said when they moved Dengarden and PetHelpful they were just testing the water, so I wasn't too surprised when they moved  more niches.
               
               The recent snipping and upgrading of articles from Discover to niches fitted with this too.
               
               Although when I read the "thank you for your work over the years" message at the start of the most recent announcement, I initially thought they were putting us out to pasture completely.
               
               As they've stated that they no longer believe in the user-generated, income-sharing model, I can't see Discover/hp.com continuing for long.

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   PaulGoodman67posted 7 weeks ago

   Forums were very fashionable when HP launched. They were the main way that people communicated publicly in live time. They aren't so common now. I guess blogs and then social media stole most of their thunder.
   
   In social media terms, I think Facebook Groups is the nearest thing that I'm familiar with. You have a defined group and a defined area of interest. There are probably other options, of course.
   
   Most social media, though, including Bluesky, I would say, is more suited to promoting a writer's work than for forum-style discussions.
   
   The best thing about the HP forums for me was when the editors gave practical advice on how we could improve our earnings and traffic. They had vast amounts of statistical info to analyze and then tell us what works and what doesn't. It was a free education, but that's gone.
   
   I don't really find that much useful info now to be brutally honest.

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7. 75

   theraggededgeposted 7 weeks ago

   Well, if Facebook is better for most people, go with that. I probably won't be writing here anyway.

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   WryLiltposted 6 weeks ago

   I think Facebook is a good idea - alternatively we could try something like Telegram for a more chat like group. Mastodon might work but someone would need to setup and run a server.

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      PaulGoodman67posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Wrylilt - I remember you being very active in the HP forums at one time but haven't seen you around for many years.
      
      If you lost interest in the forums when HP was alive and well, I'm not sure why you think a forum would work after it's sunk.
      
      My feeling is that an active forum elsewhere won't be sustainable, so I won't be involved.
      
      I wish you well, though.
      
      I am happy to keep in contact with anyone who wishes via social media sites such as Bluesky, X, and Pinterest (links in my profile for those interested).

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         WryLiltposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         Hi Paul,
         
         You're right - I don't come on Hubpages much anymore. The reason is that the site is so quiet these days (there's only one or two interesting posts per day) there's no other drawcard now that I rarely write here.
         
         I think there are a lot of great people here though, and moving that type of community onto a platform with other drawcards would be beneficial to everyone.

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            PaulGoodman67posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

            I see a lot of "still nostalgic for the good old days" in this thread, as well as elsewhere in the forum nowadays (plus a lot of complaining).
            
            I see very little of people sharing the "opportunities they see."
            
            I did see HP as great in its heyday. However, I suspect a new forum would just be more nostalgia and people complaining about TAG. Nothing wrong with that, I guess, but not for me.

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               Kenna McHughposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

               TAG is going to sell HP.

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                  JerryFisherposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                  Is that a guess Kenna - Or you know for sure? That could be a very good thing for all if correct.

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                     Kenna McHughposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                     Jerry, it's a guess. But if you think about it, TAG consolidates all the "good" articles to its platform and moves everything else to Discover. Once things settle down, it can sell HP and continue to consolidate its gains. I mean, Discover and HP are not mentioned on its platform. Why is that?

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                     1. 79

                        JerryFisherposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                        Well if your guess is right Kenna it could have great consequences for us as a new owner means new commitment. Or, I guess on the other hand, if the articles are sold as a job lot for the new owner to profit without any further involvement from us, the writers. I wonder if that would be legal? Someone was asking a similar question yesterday.

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                        1. 83

                           Kenna McHughposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

                           Jerry, it's definitely a possibility either way.

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                              SerenityHaloposted 5 weeks agoin reply to this

                              What do you think will happen if it sells?

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      Patty Inglish, MSposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

      I'll look at that page; haven't looked at it in a few months.

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   That Grrlposted 5 weeks ago

   It's kind of hard to find one social media platform that everyone will use. I like Bluesky, mostly because its simple to use. Simple is especially nice these days.
   
   But, what about going a step farther and making a community where everyone gets a profile (can link to their writing online etc) and can chat away on the site? I think it would be possible with WordPress.com. If not there are others out there free online. Or, someone who has a web domain they are not using could host a community for Hubbers to join.
   
   If HubPages closes down people could post their articles too, unless they have their own site to do so.
   
   Its an idea.

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   1. 72

      WryLiltposted 5 weeks agoin reply to this

      For me, the main drawcard is to have a community that's part of something that I already use; I don't need yet another site to join.
      
      As for Bluesky, I like it but it doesn't have any type of community groups as yet.

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         PaulGoodman67posted 5 weeks agoin reply to this

         WryLilt - If it's something that you wish for and see as useful then you should just do it and ask people to join. It would take about ten minutes to set up a Facebook group.
         
         It seems better than saying you've got this great idea for someone else to do(!)
         
         You would quickly find out how much call there is for it.
         
         To be brutally honest, I think many of the best and most enthusiastic writers (including yourself) left this site some time ago.

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         Health Reportsposted 5 weeks agoin reply to this

         How is your website doing?  Where are you writing these days?
         
         Reddit might be a good idea.  You can set up a subreddit, and other authors can join and discuss where they are writing.

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            Glenn Stokposted 5 weeks agoin reply to this

            There is a subreddit, r/hubpages, but it’s not active. Nobody ever posts to it. Interestingly however, whenever I check on it, I see a few people online also checking it out.

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               PaulGoodman67posted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

               Yes, the truth is that, as far as I'm aware, none of these alternative forums have worked out in the past.
               
               Further: If the social media sites didn't work out when HubPages was flying, why would they work out when HubPages is dying or doesn't exist?
               
               I know that sounds fatalistic, but it's also realistic, I believe.

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         lobobrandonposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

         We do have a FB group for a few years and you are in it Hubbers helping hubbers. I am the Admin there, but I do not think I would like to be admin of a broader more active group as that would require content moderation, etc. I sent you an admin invite.

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         1. 72

            WryLiltposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

            Hey Lobo! Been awhile... thank you for the invite. Maybe we could work building that group up.

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10. 57

    Eileen Hughesposted 5 weeks ago

    Its such  shame what has happened here.  But looks like its all over. Just good memories now.

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    Venkatachari Mposted 5 weeks ago

    I don't find Reddit any interesting. Is it because of my community? I follow only the r/hindulifestyle. I don't know which sub groups to follow there.

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    Eileen Hughesposted 4 weeks ago

    yes, it is a shame this was a great site

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