grannynet

[Deano...]

I first came across this website, on BBC news this morning, with the website CEO, Verity Gill, being interviewed.

Here are some of the articles that involve the website/community:
The Independant:

"... the internet support group grannynet.co.uk put out a call for a Grandparents' Charter defining the rights and responsibilities of this powerful social sector. As the site points out, grannies and grandpas are increasingly being hauled back into the family picture by cash-strapped parents in need of financial support and/or childcare"

The Guardian:

".... their adult children, however, have been so slow to realise this that a group of grandparents have set up their own support website, grannynet.co.uk, to advise the older generation how to stand firm.

world have your say website:

"Ever heard of a grandparents charter? Well, it’s being created by a support network here in the UK - called grannynet.co.uk. More and more, elderly people are being called upon to look after their grandchildren, Lorna Edwards, who co-founded the website with her daughter Verity Gill, said they hoped to build up a picture of what grandparents think is acceptable regarding childcare. Grandparents all over the world are in a similar position to Lorna Edwards and friends. Are they being exploited or taken advantage of? Should grandparents be paid to look after their grandchildren?

Hartnell chanot website:

"Grannynet is founded by Lorna Edwards and her daughter, Verity Gill, to help Grandparents to get the most out of being a grandparent. That means tackling some of the bigger issues that your new role involves and one such issue is the whole area surrounding childcare ...

Nothing wrong there it seems? (I have underlined the text to take note of)

"Internet support group" - really?
"a group of grandparents have set up their own support website" - note the "support" term being used again! A group of grandparents set the website up?
"a support network here in the UK " - I am detecting a theme here.
The website was set up "to help Grandparents to get the most out of being a grandparent" - how kind of them to do this.

If you are happy to accept this, then click away from this post - if you would like more information, read on!    

[Deano...]

First of all, lets deal with the website's claims (made via a variety of media outlets, TV, newspapers, etc.)

Grannynet IS a website business. Not my words, but the words of one of its creators, Verity Gill:

I contacted (Abisti web tutor) in order to help me set up a new online business and from the start he has been professional, knowledgeable and always willing to help. I had no idea how to build a website a year ago and now I think I can say that Gerard has taught me not only how to build a website, but that nearly anything is possible if you have the right help and support. I would recommend anyone thinking about using Gerard's services to get in touch with him, he won't let you down.

Verity Gill, grannynet

Source: Abisti web design website, tutorial testimonials

This would lead me to believe, that the claims of being "a support group for grandparents" are not entirely true.

Next, lets look at the information they require from people who wish to join the website and use its features:
Here at penny pinchers, as with other forums, we ask for a username and password of your choice, as well as an email address, to confirm your membership.
PLEASE NOTE: penny pinchers only require an email address to confirm your application, ie, that your application is not "spamming" to join and obtain the email addresses of other penny pinchers users. You can also hide your email address from others if you so wish.

So when I viewed the mandatory information you must give to join grannynet, the warning signals (for me anyways) were loud and clear:
- first name
- last name
- postcode
- Date of birth
- sex
- marital status
- employment status
- number of grandchildren
- email address

Thats a great deal of confidential information for joining an online community!
Grannynet also quote the data protection act in their terms and conditions, as well as having the bare faced cheek to charge a £10 administration fee, just for telling you what information of yours they hold!

I would suggest that this information is being sold on or used to market goods and services at the individual.
Your email address might also be being "farmed" - as your email address and the username and password you choose, are not valid to join the website's forum - this is most unusual! (If you fill out your details and give the website this information, why then will the website's own built in forum, not accept those details and you must register with it again?)
According to the website's own joining screen:

Then, once you have joined you can go on meet other grandparents to share tips and experiences on our forum.

Only when you have filled out all your information, at the bottom of the screen it states you must join again to use the forums "for security reasons"
I would dispute this. I come across forums added onto websites everyday, I have never had to give out as much information and still not been able to use the forum of that particular website!

[Deano...]

Now the obvious test - whats in it for the website owners?

All websites that advertise for companies, receive a commission, should a person click on an affiliate link then buy something.
I have yet to come across one that doesn't - when the website user is TOLD this clearly, the user can decide wether or not to use that website/company's links to buy products or services.
Nothing wrong with that at all, I consider this to be open and honest.

How does the grannynet website display this information? It doesn't (at least, I couldn't find it)
On all the pages I viewed I could find only one reference to "affiliate links" and that is in their terms and conditions, stating that people using the website cannot post them!

Which brings me onto their website terms and conditions: They look very heavy handed to me.

- Contributions to grannynet: We have the right to publish, republish in any format, edit, reject or remove anything that you send us either via email, via the Website or in writing via post for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without payment to you
- By sending materials or information (each a "Work") to us you automatically grant to grannynet a worldwide, exclusive, perpetual, fully-paid, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, and irrevocable license to use such Work
- Once you have submitted Work such as a letter, article, experience etc to grannynet either by way of the Website, direct email, by post or fax we also have the right to store it. Ownership transfers from you to grannynet and you may not submit the same Work to any other website or printed publication without prior agreement in writing from us.

Next the terms and conditions for using the website's "forum":

- No explicitly commercial postings promoting products or services are allowed - (linking to other websites that you are affiliated with is forbidden)
- You must not post or transmit statements that are intentionally false or misleading, or use such statements to manipulate markets of goods and services that would be of interest to other users of the Website (Don't sell or promote goods to the website's members?)
- You must not post or transmit any advertising, promotional materials or other forms of solicitations
- Grannynet reserves the right in its absolute discretion at any time to edit, alter, delete, or move any material posted to, appearing on or distributed by the Website and you

There you have it, penny pinchers has just given you some information that is freely available to all (if you know where to look for it) on the internet. Wether you use the website, is up to you!