The next time you submit a request to join a Facebook group, you may be asked to answer up to three questions.
In the case of the Genealogy à la carte group, the short questionnaire will help speed up the process of vetting people to make sure they really are interested in genealogy, and are not spammers.
According to TechCrunch, “Group admins can establish up to three questions for people requesting to join their Group to answer. This lets admins screen potential members to ensure they’re the right fit for the group and will add constructively to the discussion, not just spam or troll the Group.”
Group admins will find the new feature in Edit Group Settings in the options, which appear as three dots. Scroll down the page to Membership Requests to find Ask Pending Members Questions. If you don’t like the three questions you write, you can easily revise or delete.
Previously when a group admin wanted to inquire about why someone wanted to join their group, they had to either friend them or send a Facebook message that would likely be buried in their message requests.
Many times, I’ve sent a message to someone and never received their response. I assume they never saw the message or were planning to spam the group.
A Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch, “Screening new membership requests requires time and legwork for admins – particularly for groups built around focused passions or purpose. For these groups, admins typically have specific criteria they require before admitting new members. Establishing these open-ended questions enables them to more quickly review and approve member requests; in turn, people seeking communities of support or shared interest can more quickly connect with others.”
You will find hundreds of genealogy groups on my Facebook for Canadian Genealogy list. (If your group is missing from the list, let me know through Contact in the menu bar above.)
Learn more about the new questionnaire feature in TechCrunch.
