City Councilor Brenda Noel asked us to share this, which appears to be linked to the popular Next Door app…
Hey V14-
In an effort to keep my finger on the pulse of the community I signed up for “Next Door Newton”. Today I received a letter in the mail apparently from myself asking myself and my neighbors to sign up for a free internet service. Just an FYI- I did not authorize this letter, nor do I know anything about this particular service, though I encourage folks to be cautious as it appears a bit predatory.
I am working to get myself removed from the site and recoup any private information they have about me or my contacts. My apologies if you received something from me….and lesson learned….I’ll stick to v14 and local list servs for my neighborhood news….
best,
Brenda
Yuck – we’d been tempted to sign up for that website but didn’t want to give our phone number or credit card number, the two primary “address verification” methods. We opted for verification via postcard, which just arrived, but we will now be tossing it in the trash after reading this. Thanks for the heads-up, Brenda. It seems as though the economic formula for social media websites just gets sleazier and sleazier.
@Brenda – thank you for sharing this. Please let us know if you’re successful getting your info removed from them.
It’s just another social network. It’s a pretty good. Not shady. Lots of local people sharing recommendations, local updates, etc. I think you can use Facebook to authenticate your address too. I don’t remember giving them my card info, see if you can bypass that step.
Thanks Brenda.
I wouldn’t use Facebook to authenticate anything or to join anything. That gives them all of the information about you and your friends on Facebook. I’m with Brenda with sticking to the many Newton Facebook pages, google groups, listservs and discussion groups for those types of things that only require your email address.
I signed up for Nextdoor Newton nearly 2 years ago. The sky has not fallen and there has been no predatory advertising or scams. It has been postings for people looking for roofers, plumbers and you name it. Many people respond and many people thank for the information received. I have found it extremely civil and useful. The person who sent me a postcard was someone I respected and after 2 years I see no problem with it. I was able to pick up a free bookcase from someone in Wellesley. I think Councilor Noel might have reacted too quickly.
Here is the list from an email this week
Need a new hair guru!
• Looking for teachers!
• Vision for Newton Center
• Dog Bite: Highland st/Bolton 7:50 am 6/19/18
• Need help moving furniture
• Junk removal
• Hair stylist recommendations
• I know it’s early but I need snow plow person for winter
• Where do you buy blueberries?
• low key lawn and garden maintenance
• Need new washing machine.
• Seeking reliable handyperson and flooring contractor
• Be careful when hiring Lawrence Falls: contractor, painter
• Recommendations for Cataract Surgery
• Dog Sitter
• Piano tuner needed
• Masonry: walkways, patios, fire pits and retaining walls
Susan, Brenda found out that the site used her info to send a marketing email in her name. I think that’s cause for reaction.
I believe they do have an “invite your contacts” type feature that Ms. Noel probably clicked on.
Also, to be clear, this is NOT an Internet Service Provider like Verizon, Comcast, RCN. Their description of it as an “online network” is definitely a little ambiguous and hence confusing.
With a few exceptions, seems like some lovely and helpful people on there. Not as much kvetching as a lot of local forums I’ve been in over the years.
I definitely wouldn’t buy Internet service from this woman. It would be too lurchy.
I have also used Nextdoor for a number of years. Most recently to solicit some thoughts on a local pest removal company. I have found strawberry plants, gave people information on a good dentist, optometrist, and chiropractor and right now offered to cat sit for somebody who needs a home for their pet while they relocate housing. I have borrowed a belt sander and provided feedback on Newton recycling as well as offering some of the old recycling bin stickers (I still have one stack from the stickering effort years ago) for people interested.
That said you need to be very careful when using it or signing up, similar to Linked-in. It will want to connect with everything. Each person gets 10 postcards that they can send to neighbors to have them sign up. It is a way of verifying that you live in the neighborhood and are not a Russian troll.
And yes the wording on the flyer is a but nebulous as to what they are but I think it is a very valuable addition to local news and information, in addition to Village 14.
I would suggest a re-evaluation of the service as there is quite a bit of value I have found. There are some paid posts and ad service but it is nowhere close to what FB is feeding you…and if you join make sure to look for the little button of “ignore”, “not now”, or “next” to get past whatever information it wants to try and get from you…You don’t need to connect with FB or provide a phone number (I have done neither) just address (via postcard) and email verification.
With all due respect to Councilor Albright- What Marti said.
I am glad to hear people find value in this service but sending a letter out on my behalf to pitch your product is a deal breaker for me. Perhaps I did “check a wrong box” but I was never asked nor did I affirm sending a letter to all my neighbors with me as the sign off pitching the site.