Who Noticed This At Familysearch?

Question

"Searching and viewing historical records will soon require you to be logged in with a free FamilySearch Account. Create your free account now. Learn more."

Looks like it will still be free, but you'll have to create an account to search at familysearch very soon.

Comments

I have had a free account there for years.

Find a grave used to be easy to access. Is it turning into "pay to play?"

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I doubt it, but you never know, Frank. Perhaps they will start sending out email. As of now, I get email from familysearch only in regards to transcribing records.

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Natalie I think last week, was when I caught differences within the site. and noticed too that after a couple hours signed in, it will auto send me out, even if I am actually in there moving around from search to search page to page.  also got a lil message (hadn't noticed my signed in was again off) & famsrch blipped onscreen as I hit search..something about (you maybe able to see more actual records if you are signed into family search. if you are not a member, its free to join, sign up and see what you maybe missing.  or something similar to this. so I rehit the sign in, and when the search re came up, sure enough there were more viewable records than there had been when I wasn't signed in.

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Yes, that has also happened to me recently. I thought it was due to a browser setting, but I guess it's due to changes at familysearch.

I noticed another thing today when searching: I got a hit from genealogybank, and the entire obituary showed up on the side of the search page. I do have a subscription, so maybe that's why it shows up,but I've never seen that happen before.

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funny..something wierd happened in there last night, I was researching for someone on wikitree in there, and when search results came up, I got this total like off white cover/ reminded me of someone putting a sheet of paper over the "overhead projector glass"..anyway mssg pops up, more details only viewable thru paid subscription which i don't have, but I looked down at the very bottom of this white cover & sure enough there was just enough info faded thru for me to be able to get both spouses names for more research, lol

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Looks like "soon" has arrived: Login required now.

Answer 1

This is one of the reasons they are giving for the account requirement.

 "FamilySearch must assure all its partners that its content is offered in a safe and secure online environment.  Patrons creating a free account and signing in fulfills that need. " 

There are more reasons if you click the Learn More option on the notice. 

Comments

Thank you M Silva for best answer :)

Answer 2

I just noticed that about 15 minutes ago and I looked and saw I was in fact signed in,  I already have an account and still have the message too. So I have no idea what that's about.

Answer 3

I did notice it so went ahead and set up the free account. They haven't spammed me since so it hasn't really affected me in any way.

Comments

I have never been spammed by them, and my account was set up in 2011.

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Never been spammed as such, but get an info email about twice a year, which is OK.

Answer 4

One of the first things I did after joining Wikitree was to join FamilySearch. I use them everyday. Join if you haven't yet!! A wonderful site!!

Answer 5

I noticed it, noticed I was already signed in, and about the third or fourth time, I went to read their explanation (click on Learn More).

Answer 6

Ok let me see if I got this right. You need to have an account to access records starting in December? If you have an account already (like I do) you don't have to worry? I suppose that's fine. But, they have a MUCH bigger problem.

They need more dedicated people or curators/profile managers. So tired of having to clean stuff up whenever I go to some profiles. It would also help if people were more communicative. I digress. I have my own problems with that site. I just wish people took care of the profiles.

Hopefully, this new gimmick attracts people who are willing to help.

Comments

All I can say to this is *AMEN*!!!

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Thanks, Scott! :)

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There are plenty of messes on FS.  One thing to keep in mind is that they have many, many "dedicated people or curators/profile managers" and they are us.

Another thing is that communication starts with numero uno.

WikiTree has taught me that I can do my best and make a difference, one profile at a time, one contributor at a time, and that can and should be carried over to all other sites we work on.

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And that's what I try to do. Then some jerk comes along and disconnects someone from their parents despite a ton of evidence.  That happened a couple times over there. No so much here.

Had to reconnect and send messages to the people explaining why so and so is the child of whoever he/she disconnected. Communication over there could be a little better.

At least here we have a forum. Same with geni. Ancestry has forums, too. But, I wish you could send messages as a basic member. I have a few people who list my grandfather as born in Palermo, Sicily. He was not.

Well, it's been a while since the change. Has anyone noticed any changes? Aside from it loading faster.

Answer 7

Yes, I noticed the change in policy and yes I have had a FamilySearch.org account for a long time. Thank you for bringing this to the attention of others.

Answer 8

Yeah - I've noticed it too. Was very annoying as I was trying to do research and I kept wondering why it kept announcing that when I was already logged onto FS. Oh well - after awhile I just tried my best to ignore it and move on. Creating an account over there is fairly painless and beyond the basic "having to maintain another account" issue as well as "potential data breach" concern, there's really not much of a reason to "not" create one and keep going. It's only going to affect those who want to read records and refuse to sign in. It will confuse matters once or twice for those who have had free non-account access in the past, but at least they're giving the accounts away for free.

Answer 9

I've had an account there for ages too, because if you are signed in, you can click the button to view a source image at a partner site (as long as you also belong to and are logged into the partner site, if it is a pay to play job).

This is absolutely fantastic, I get the Familysearch search engine/layout, which makes it easy to view a lot of source transcriptions without having to go to new pages all the time, then when I want to check original images, I just click to go to the partner site.

Also, because Familysearch was logging me out regularly, I got Dashlane, which you can use to log in for you. Every time FS wants me to log in, I just watch Dashlane do the work.

Comments

It only takes me 2 mouse clicks to sign in so Dashlane would not make enough difference to make me want to get it.

Answer 10

I noticed it but since I have had an account with them long before I even heard of WikiTree it was a non issue for me. I always sign in there before doing any research because they have long had a policy that some images can not be viewed unless you are signed in.

Answer 11

Saw that. Not thrilled.