Facebook tests out “suspend” instead of “mute” in Facebook groups
The other day, in a fit of aggravated Facebook admin rage, I decided to mute a member who had repeatedly broken my #1 rule, which is: Be excellent to each other.
You know how sometimes you’re just so mad, your brain doesn’t really work that well?
And then, to top it off, Facebook pulls one of their fun tests on you?
This was one of those days.
The damn mute option was GONE!
It took me a hot minute to realize it had been replaced by “suspend.” Huh. Okay.
sus·pend
/səˈspend/
1.temporarily prevent from continuing or being in force or effect.
“work on the dam was suspended”
2.hang (something) from somewhere.
“the light was suspended from the ceiling”
But why? Suspend seems way more ambiguous than “mute.”
mute
/myo͞ot/
refraining from speech or temporarily speechless.
“Irene, the talkative one, was now mute”
Similar: silent speechless
verb
deaden, muffle, or soften the sound of.
“her footsteps were muted by the thick carpet”
Here’s the other fun thing. In one of my groups, the option to “quiet a member” is still MUTE and the other is SUSPEND.
Group 1:
Group 2:
Seriously, Facebook, can you stop messing with us?
What will the next test be? Time out? Dunce cap? Detention?
Which do you prefer? Suspend or Mute?
And which option do you have for your groups?
Let us know in the comments!
Mute is a much better term for us as admins to understand. I think they are using suspend as a weird that has less impact on the Member when they see it. Ask this being’ sensitive’ crap nowadays. But that is just my opinion coming from an older generation who doesn’t bit into ask that. A spade is a spade, or a rose is a rose. Use the best word for the job.
I feel like “suspended” actually seems more punitive than “muted” – because all I can think of is how being “suspended” from school is a huge punishment!