Ancestry.com
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A good platform but has become more cumbersome with the new AI system
When I first became a member 12 years ago I thought Ancestry was excellent with a wealth of information so I was able to build a comprehensive tree. I stopped subscribing when I got as far as I could with the available records. Recently I took out a three month trial with DNA and was able to gain access to the 1921 Census records. I don’t find Ancestry as good as it was. These are my reasons and some tips for using the site:- COPY RECORDS TO YOUR PC AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VIEW THEM IF YOU STOP SUBSCRIBING: If you stop subscribing you will still be able to see your tree and any photos you have added, but won’t have access to the records that you gained from Ancestry and added to your tree. I suggest that you download the individual records to your PC as jpegs and these can be copied back to your tree as media so you will still be able to see them when not subscribing. DUPLICATE HINTS Since the new Ancestry AI was introduced many of the hints have not been relevant and I am getting hints for things that I added myself and are already in my tree. The funniest was when I received an email saying, "See what we have uncovered about your husband," with information that I had added myself to my tree. It is a huge waste of time. I don’t know if the strategy is to keep you on the platform as long as possible so you subscribe for longer. You can choose not to receive hints through email. ACCURACY Beware of copying from other members trees without checking as there are many inaccuracies. EASE OF NAVIGATION Those new to Ancestry may find it clunky and difficult to navigate. There is a definite learning curve. FLAT RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION DOES NOT ALLOW ACCESS TO ALL RECORDS You will receive hints for records from Newspapers, for example, that you will not be able to view without subscribing. You can take out a trial, but have to give your bank details. There are many levels of subscription in Ancestry itself. OTHER WEBSITES HAVE INFORMATION FOR FREE For example the Free BMD website has many records for free and is very useful for birth records as it gives the mother’s maiden name. COPY A GEDCOM FILE TO YOUR PC This is really easy and can be used on other platforms or by other relatives with an Ancestry account rather than them drawing up a whole new tree. To do so, navigate to your tree, go to Tree Settings, and find the "Export Tree" or "Download your GEDCOM file" option. ANCESTRY DNA The DNA tests are very accurate and some people uncover relatives they never knew existed. However, when it comes to finding common ancestors the system is only as good as other people’s trees and whether they have drawn one at all. Also many people keep their trees and DNA private so the only way you can find out more is if you contact them and see if they respond. Some people have their profile picture and tree public and their DNA viewable for matches, but still don’t respond when contacted, whereas others are very helpful. ANCESTRY TRAITS I would estimate these are less than 50% accurate with some being totally inaccurate and contradictory. For example, traits said that my husband was likely to get seasick, when he is the best sailor I have known and has never been seasick despite much time spend at sea in all kinds of weather. That is just one example and there are equally silly things for me. It got our hair and eye colour right, but this hasn’t been the case with other people. Traits are not to be taken seriously, but a bit of fun like reading your horoscope. Pick out the bits that apply to you and ignore the rest. It might be worth copying your traits to your PC as I have read that some of these disappear if you stop subscribing, but then if they are not accurate do you really care? TWO-STEP VERIFICATION I keep disabling it, but it keeps keeps coming back on so there is no choice which is annoying. It is impossible to view certain aspects of your DNA without two-step verification. AUTOMATIC RENEWAL Beware of Ancestry automatic renewal and cancel your subscription in good time if you don't want to continue your membership with money being taken from your account.