User Generated Reviews 2021

Forum Moderators: rogerd

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User Generated Reviews 2021

engine

12:51 pm on Dec 21, 2020 (gmt 0)

We've all seen examples of abuse of user generated reviews, and, as far as I can see, it's still rife. Somehow, I don't see it becoming less of an issue in the coming years.

For some businesses involved in writing and submitting reviews it's a legitimate source of income.

It's also abused by those that cannot write an objective review. Positive and negative reviews can equally be disruptive to a user or a business.

Should it be regulated? Should we include reviews on our sites and police them ourselves, or should we rely on a third party to police reviews?

What's the way for ward with this?

tangor

11:30 pm on Dec 21, 2020 (gmt 0)

Never trust third parties unless you own them.

OR, if you must use a third party, vet them with extreme care.

Regulated by who?

Site level management ensures the SITE is likely not to be injured by UGC reviews if the "editor in chief" is paying attention to both content and brand protection.

YMMV

engine

11:07 am on Dec 22, 2020 (gmt 0)

Apart from user trust, tangor, I can't see a solution.

It probably goes without saying as individuals here we've all learnt not to trust.

What is the way forward? Google is pushing hard to get reviews, yet i can't see those reviews are any more trustworthy than the vast majority around the Net.

I've also seen instances where a genuine user has the ability to review, yet their review is simply wrong.

We've seen people sued for reviews, and we've seen Amazon having the occasional purge. We've also seen a real uptick in false reviews.

Has the user generated review now passed its sell-by date?

tangor

12:10 am on Dec 23, 2020 (gmt 0)

I don't allow reviews, though I do have third party content (writers submitting things) that fits the theme and intent of the website(s). Some folks call that free-lancing. :)

Automated or open to the public reviews have ALWAYS been fraught with abuse and danger UNLESS there's an editor or content moderator on duty 24/7/365.

Unless something changes (on g's side) most of us consider this risky behavior and, sadly, there's no strap on prophylactic that will offer site protection against rank demise ... but then again, some like to live on the edge and take extreme chances.

Reviews are not going away. The marketeers and the producers of "things and entertainment" rely on them, a a few critics are even paid actual salaries to comment on the latest and greatest, however; the VALUE of reviews for websites disappeared years ago.

G has degraded UGC to such an extent that some sites in the past have been penalized.

Sell-by? Reviews never had an expiration date. :)