Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health
  • Chicago ranks as 161st worst city for crime in new national survey Chicago
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Kat Abughazaleh raises over $520,000 in Q2 of 2025 with more than $630,000 cash on hand for 2026 Democratic primary election elections
  • Silent Threat: The True Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries — How to Stay Safe and Respond to a Battery Fire Fire
Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Bullies and cliques plague Nextdoor Social Media site

Posted on May 8, 2021July 13, 2021 By Ray Hanania
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Opinion: Bullies and cliques plague Nextdoor Social Media site

Nextdoor, the social media site that allegedly is intended to bring “neighbors” together to discuss local issues and concerns, is more of a bully pulpit for narrow-minded political partisanship where cliques dominate the discussions and censor anyone they dislike without accountability. The Nextdoor site often portrays communities in the worst possible light, causing negative impacts of property values. It is a bad place to publicly engage. Take our poll and let us know what you think

By Ray Hanania

Social media has its problems that range from misinformation and partisan politics. But the worst is bullying, and apparently one of the worst places where bullying is prevalent is on Nextdoor, the so-called neighborhood social media site where “neighbors” are supposed to be allowed to share their opinions, needs and activities.

But in many cases, Nextdoor is little more than a bully platform for a clique of narrowminded bullies who gather together based on radical politics or petty personal issues.

Nextdoor claims to be a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in San Francisco, California. Nextdoor launched in the United States in October 2011, and is currently available in 11 countries. It was founded by programmers based in San Francisco.

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash
Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

I  joined Nextdoor several years ago to meet the neighbors in a lake resort where I own a summer home. But it quickly turned into a bully pulpit where neighbors who dislike my politics or disagree with my views tend to dominate the discussion. Worse, is that Nextdoor appoints “minders” who use their powers to censor and punish anyone they disagree with. Some of the “minders” are decent people, but it only takes one or two to make the place a horrible place to hang your social hat.

Even worse is that instead of being a place where you can get advice on which contractors offer the best services, Nextdoor instead has become a place to protect some contractors from any criticism. Some advertise, but other contractors have excessive influence with the “minders” or are in fact minders themselves.

Maybe you want to express displeasure with the poor performance of a contractor, when asked by other users for experiences. If you criticize a contractor, the social media system can censor you, suspend you or even block you from membership to silence your reviews of bad contractors. Some criticism stays, while many others do not.

Many people avoid Nextdoor and for good reason. They have experienced the bullying firsthand, and several have shared their experiences so they tend to lurk rather than engage fearing public retribution or shaming of those who the Nextdoor “minders” dislike.

That list of targets is huge.

We placed a poll on this website to ask people their experiences with Nextdoor and the overwhelming majority say they hesitate to post but most will monitor the site because it is one of the few sites for local information. That’s the downside of the collapse of the mainstream news media. The small community newspapers which at one time provided the most information on a neighborhood or community today can barely survive.

You can take our survey and share your views here on your own experiences (1 vote per user IP address).


[ays_poll id=4]
Nextdoor needs better “minders” who are fair and it should also notify victims of their bullying when their accounts are suspended or shut down. But they don’t do that. Not notifying users of their status must be an enjoyment from the “minders” who gang up on people they dislike. They also create private groups where users can attack others personally with no supervision.

My opinion? I would avoid Nextdoor. You can’t trust the reviews made about contractors. Oftentimes, the contractors are behind the reviews. And its easy to get on their bad side if one of their friends attacks you and you try to respond.

I’m definitely not the only person who feels that way.

The viciousness is outrageous including some posters claiming that summer and weekend homeowners are not residents of the neighborhoods where they live in a way to silence people who own homes in certain neighborhoods. The claims are political and personal and typical of the bullying techniques used by some of the hate-posters who try to dominate the chat boards with their views. If you disagree, they call you names. If you respond, they file false complaints and there are no consequences for them to do so.

There should be.

Despite a positive concern expressed by the Nextdoor website owners, the bullying continues. My suggestion remains to avoid Nextdoor and definitely don’t post any personal information on it. You can become a victim there, too.

(We will update the Bar Graph Chart regularly)

 

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter and political columnist. This column was originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group in the Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers. For more information on Ray Hanania visit www.Hanania.com or email him at [email protected].)

 

 

Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

* indicates required field. 

 

Select Email Format


newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families - October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat - October 29, 2025
  • Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens - October 29, 2025
NPV: 57
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, General Topics, National, Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:bullying, censorship, minders, misinformation, Nextdoor, partisan politics, personal attacks

Post navigation

Previous Post: ‘Light of our family’
Next Post: Pappas hosts tax forum Sunday in Bridgeview

Related Posts

  • Congressman Sean Casten
    Rep. Casten Votes to Establish Process for Confiscating Russian Oligarchs’ Assets, Funding Ukraine Reconstruction Federal
  • Lyons Mayor Chris Getty at fundraiser Feb. 23, 2023 at Gibson's Restaurant
    Getty celebrates 14 years as Lyons Mayor at packed fundraiser at Gibsons Cook County
  • Chicago Wolves face-off with Toronto Marlies Nov. 13, 2021
    Leivo, Chicago Wolves, win 10 in a row Chicago
  • Kathy Griffin at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Kathy Griffin and the real extremism Opinion
  • Seniors in Nursing homes. Photo by Georg Arthur Pflueger on Unsplash
    Seniors deserve far more benefits than they get from our government Baby Boomers
  • Ray Hanania in 1955 on Chicago's Southeast Side. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Opinion writing: “If you want a friend, get a dog” Blogger

More Related Articles

Chicago Wolves forward David Gust (left) and Cole Smith (right) after Gust scores May 1. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves Chicago Wolves win exhibition game over Milwaukee Admirals Chicago
Raoul brings campaign to people Politics
SeatGeek welcomes movies News
Culver's Restaurants Families of Fallen Chicago Police Officers and Fire Fighters to Receive Support From Culver’s  Chicago
Offshore Restaurant offers Halloween fun Business
Flag of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Milwaukee County identifies programs that could be cut National
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    October 29, 2025
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured
    October 28, 2025
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday
    October 26, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme