On 2023-12-15 04:39:46 +0000, The Starmaker said:

> by now most of yous heard
> Google Groups will shut down for good...
>
> feb 2024

In the words of that classic adage, "Don't let the door hit you in the
butt on your way out..."

--

Google Groups is dropping Usenet support, and that is a good thing
Martin Brinkmann
ghacks.net
Dec 15, 2023

Google announced this week that it plans to cut the ties to the Usenet
in Google Groups. Starting February 22, 2024, Google Groups users can
no longer post content to Usenet groups, subscribe to Usenet groups or
view Usenet content published after February 22.

Native Google Groups content and communities continue to be available,
as the change does not impact them. Google notes further that it will
disband its Usenet infrastructure. These servers can not be used
anymore to interact with the Usenet according to the announcement.

Google Groups Usenet Shutdown

Google explains that activity in text-based Usenet groups has declined
over the years. Large parts of the userbase have moved on to "more
modern technologies and formats". The majority of content that is
available on the Usenet is either binary files or spam, according to
Google.

The Spam problem

While Google mentions that spam is a problem, it fails to point out
that most of the spam posted to text-based Usenet groups originates
from Google Groups. In fact, many Usenet regulars started to use
filters to weed out anything that comes from Google Groups as a method
to eliminate spam in their subscribed groups.

The tie cutting is therefore a welcome change for many Usenet users who
are subscribed to text-based groups on the Usenet. Come February 2024,
spam will drop to levels that are significantly lower than current
levels.

What users can do about it

The shutting down of the news server is the main problem for users.
They need to find another service that offers newsgroup access. One
free option to access text-based groups is provided by Eternal
September.

Besides having to find a new provider, users need to find a new client
as well. Several free clients are available, including Mozilla
Thunderbird, which supports newsgroups. You can check out Wikipedia's
list of Usenet readers here.

Content posted before February 22, 2024 continues to be available on
Google Groups, according to Google.

Closing Words

Google ending support for Usenet in Google Groups and disbanding its
infrastructure is certainly disruptive for users who used the service
to interact with the Usenet. On the other hand, it resolves a
long-standing spam problem that Google did nothing about.

On 2023-12-15 11:34:14 +0000, super70s said:
> On 2023-12-15 04:39:46 +0000, The Starmaker said:
>>
>> by now most of yous heard
>> Google Groups will shut down for good...
>>
>> feb 2024
>
> In the words of that classic adage, "Don't let the door hit you in the
> butt on your way out..."

Google Groups is not shutting down. Google is stopping their connection
to Usenet newsgroups (thankfully!!) via Google Groups, but all the
actual discussion groups created within Google Groups itself will
continue ... if anyone bothers to actually use them.

super70s wrote:
>
> On 2023-12-15 04:39:46 +0000, The Starmaker said:

>> by now most of yous heard
>> Google Groups will shut down for good...
>>
>> feb 2024

> In the words of that classic adage, "Don't let the door hit you in the
> butt on your way out..."

> --

> Google Groups is dropping Usenet support, and that is a good thing
> Martin Brinkmann
> ghacks.net
> Dec 15, 2023

> Google announced this week that it plans to cut the ties to the Usenet
> in Google Groups. Starting February 22, 2024, Google Groups users can
> no longer post content to Usenet groups, subscribe to Usenet groups or
> view Usenet content published after February 22.

> Native Google Groups content and communities continue to be available,
> as the change does not impact them. Google notes further that it will
> disband its Usenet infrastructure. These servers can not be used
> anymore to interact with the Usenet according to the announcement.

> Google Groups Usenet Shutdown

> Google explains that activity in text-based Usenet groups has declined
> over the years. Large parts of the userbase have moved on to "more
> modern technologies and formats". The majority of content that is
> available on the Usenet is either binary files or spam, according to
> Google.

> The Spam problem

> While Google mentions that spam is a problem, it fails to point out
> that most of the spam posted to text-based Usenet groups originates
> from Google Groups. In fact, many Usenet regulars started to use
> filters to weed out anything that comes from Google Groups as a method
> to eliminate spam in their subscribed groups.

> The tie cutting is therefore a welcome change for many Usenet users who
> are subscribed to text-based groups on the Usenet. Come February 2024,
> spam will drop to levels that are significantly lower than current
> levels.

> What users can do about it

> The shutting down of the news server is the main problem for users.
> They need to find another service that offers newsgroup access. One
> free option to access text-based groups is provided by Eternal
> September.

> Besides having to find a new provider, users need to find a new client
> as well. Several free clients are available, including Mozilla
> Thunderbird, which supports newsgroups. You can check out Wikipedia's
> list of Usenet readers here.

> Content posted before February 22, 2024 continues to be available on
> Google Groups, according to Google.

> Closing Words

> Google ending support for Usenet in Google Groups and disbanding its
> infrastructure is certainly disruptive for users who used the service
> to interact with the Usenet. On the other hand, it resolves a
> long-standing spam problem that Google did nothing about.

Again, for those looking for a web portal for Usenet, Nova BBS works well, and is free:

https://www.novabbs.com/arts/thread.php?group=rec.arts.tv

HTH and HAND.

W.Dockery@news.novabbs.com wrote:

>Again, for those looking for a web portal for Usenet, Nova BBS works well,
>and is free:
>
>https://www.novabbs.com/arts/thread.php?group=rec.arts.tv

Is NetArchive still about?

--
Let's go Brandon!