Comment by yellowapple

Comment by yellowapple 3 days ago

7 replies

> 23andme has basically given up on this part of the business.

The routine emails I get about them allegedly finding new DNA relatives suggest otherwise. The DNA relatives feature is also still pretty prominent in their UI (at least on desktop browsers; haven't looked at the app yet).

That said, it certainly doesn't offer much beyond "these are your relatives; send 'em some messages or something lol". Ancestry probably has a lot more features on that front, which is unsurprising since that's the sort of thing Ancestry was doing long before they even offered DNA sequencing kits like 23andMe does. I don't know if I'd characterize that as 23andMe "giving up", though; more that it's good enough for a product that never intended to enter the genealogy software market in the first place.

LgWoodenBadger 2 days ago

The new-DNA-relatives feature is one of the few "growth" things they can continue to bother you with, outside of newly-discovered genome-based indicators for diseases.

I get/got spammed by them about new relatives on the order of "6th cousin who shares 0.3% of your DNA." Thanks, but who cares...

  • busseio 2 days ago

    "Give the kits as gifts!" and you can learn about your closer relatives /s-ish

codedokode 2 days ago

I wonder, do the "relatives" know and agree that their information is sent to other person?

  • sitharus 2 days ago

    …yes that’s how it works? You opt in and choose what you share. They’re quite explicit about it.

    • michaelcampbell a day ago

      > You opt in and choose what you share

      Until the company gets breached and your choices mean squat. Thanks, no.

    • nnutter 2 days ago

      I would say it's a little more murky than that. My anecdotal experience is in the context of Ancestry.com. Effectively, I might not consent to having my information shared but if my uncle, nephew, etc. does it is effectively still being shared.

  • PawgerZ 2 days ago

    Yes. You must opt in. When you opt in, you can elect to show your full name, or just initals (may be other options but I opted in long ago).