A Way to Resolve Conflicts on FamilySearch
Dear team,
Based on the support interactions we handle daily—especially in cases involving improper edits or undocumented disconnections in the Family Tree—I would like to present a few suggestions that may help reduce errors, vandalism, and edits made by users without sufficient knowledge.
1. Permission levels based on user experience
New users could begin with limited permissions, being able to edit only the profiles they themselves created, until completing a brief mandatory tutorial.
2. Protected mode for sensitive profiles
Allow certain profiles to be marked as “high sensitivity,” requiring justification and/or documentary evidence for critical changes.
3. Peer review system
Significant changes—such as disconnecting relationships, removing parents, or merging long-established profiles—could be placed in a review queue for experienced users before being applied.
4. Source-based safeguards
If a profile has attached documents, conflicting edits would only be allowed upon submission of a new source or a detailed justification.
5. User reputation system
Assign trust levels based on editing history, temporarily restricting extensive changes for users with low reputation.
6. Enhanced preventive alerts
Display more prominent warnings when modifying sensitive or well-documented information, requiring additional confirmation.
7. Simplified internal reporting tool
A “Report improper edit” button directly on the profile to streamline support intervention.
8. Basic mandatory training
A brief but informative tutorial explaining best practices and the risks associated with a collaborative tree before granting broader editing permissions.
I believe these measures would significantly help preserve the results of years of research by many users, while also improving overall experience within the platform.
I am available to assist further should you wish to discuss or develop any of these suggestions in more detail.
Sincerely,
Victor Bezerra