Migration Options For Yahoo Groups

(Where Do We Go From Here?)

(Updated Nov 8, 2019)

(Web-formatted Version)

[This not a comprehensive review of all the migration or storage options].

Preface

If you plan to migrate your mailing list you will need to decide

1. Can the new home import existing archives of messages and files?
2. Will the Group/Mailing list platform permit adult material or copyrighted material? “Adult material” can include any depictions of sexual activity, even implied sexual activity and may prohibit text (fanfic). Likewise, most Terms of Service prohibit the inclusion of copyrighted material

The short version: For adult or copyrighted content, your best options are Dreamwidth Communities or Squidge.org Mailing lists as both allow the widest range of adult material and supports transformative use. If your mailing list does not depict any sexual activity or does not involve copyrighted material, you can spend $220 to migrate to Groups.io and then use their free groups. You can also start a new mailing list on Google Groups as long as it does not touch on non-con, incest, underage, or bestiality.  Both Dreamwidth and Google Groups will require that you download and store your existing message archives and files/photos elsewhere.  Finally, there are chat rooms like Slack or Discord that could be used to start a new fan space, also without any of your Yahoo groups existing messages or files (details below)

Existing Archives: Migrating Messages and Files (check back here for new suggestions)

Only a few platforms allow you to import your existing messages in their original format. Files and photos can be uploaded manually (depending on the service you select).

Groups.io

For a one time fee of $220 they will migrate your entire archives (both messages and files) over. Requests must be submitted by Dec 1, 2019. Warning: they do not permit any material that depicts sexual activity, even implied sexual activity and all new groups will be manually reviewed and approved.  Groups.io  has changed the membership caps for free groups multiple times in response to the Yahoo shutdown. At one point, free groups were capped at 500 members. Proceed with care.

Self-Installed Wordpress Forums

This requires that you have your own website, install WordPress, install a free Wordpress plugin and then pay a developer such as Wilson Login (developer of the Yahoo download tool PGOffline) to do the import. This will not be an email list - more like a forum where people login to view messages. Whether you can host adult material depends on the policies of your website host. There may also be a deadline for this type of migration, but all files and photos will need to be downloaded or migrated no later than Dec 14, 2019.

Google Groups

You cannot import existing messages. There are no central archives to upload files or images. Caution: Google Groups will permit adult material as long as it does not touch on non-con, incest, underage, or bestiality

Squidge.org

Squidge.org is a one-man server who has been hosting fandom related content for decades. He can import your existing message archives if you export them using Verizon’s GetMyData request.

From the owner of Squidge.org:

“Squidge.org has a robust mailing list software package in place that is a healthy alternative to Yahoo! Groups. It does the usual mailing list stuff, but it also does private file hosting per mailing list. If you need an alternative, ping me. Your list subscribers and archive can be imported (as long as you can export them, or grant me access to be able to grab them), though you will have to upload your file archive manually to maintain proper file security.

Questions? Ping me here or email or Twitter.“

Future Possibilities? 

There may be other companies or individuals evaluating whether it is feasible to set up fan-friendly mailing lists that will allow adult content. Whether these future mailing lists will be able to import existing Yahoo Groups is unknown. Stay tuned.

Existing Archives: Do Not Migrate

If you are willing to archive your existing messages, photos and files for members to read or search separately, and start a new mailing list moving forward, you have more options.

How would that work? 

You would export your messages into a readable format (TXT or HTML) using one of tools like PGOffline  or the Chrome Browser App.  Alternatively you can request that Yahoo send a copy of your Group messages.  Upload those files to a storage location and then give your new members access. The storage location should be searchable (search inside the text or the body of the HTML files)

For files and photos, the process is simpler - using PGOffline, you download the files and then manually upload them to a storage location. You only have until Dec 14, 2019 to download your files and photos. If you submit a request to Yahoo for a copy of your Groups Data, Yahoo will not supply Photos and only some of your Files, making PGOffline the best option.

Examples of storage providers are in the tables below.

Groups.io

If you cannot afford the $220 annual cost of migrating your group, you can do a manual transfer of the exported messages as a single text file along with your photos and files. Sign up for a free account which comes with 1 GB storage. Be aware that Groups.io has changed its policies for free accounts multiple times so there is no guarantee that your group will be free moving forward.  Using a free tool like PGOffline or the Chrome Yahoo Messages App, export your messages as a TXT or HTML files. You can upload them, along with images and files to your Group file area. But remember - Groups.io does not permit any material that depicts sexual activity.

Google Groups

Traditional style mailing list, but no central file or photo storage (users can attach images/files up to 25MB  a message).  If you wish to include message archives or image/file archives, you will have to upload them elsewhere.  Google Groups will permit adult material as long as it does not touch on non-con, incest, underage, or bestiality.  It can be a bit tricky for non-gmail users to join.

Dreamwidth Communities

Dreamwidth communities are free, offer threaded conversations, and can be made private. Dreamwidth is an offshoot of Livejournal blogs, but before they were sold to the Russians. There are no Group file uploads and photo storage is limited, but each member has 500MB image upload capability (1.5GB for paid users).  For files and other documents, members would use an external storage provider like Dropbox or Google Drive to give members access.  On the plus side Dreamwidth permits explicit material and is fandom friendly, with a proven track record.

Squidge.org

Squidge.org has been hosting free mailing lists for fans since 1994. The web interface allows you to browse posts either chronologically or by thread. Squidge.org offers a flexible amount of storage space to lists, which is called shared document web space. Image hosting is at http://images.squidge.org/. Squidge.org also hosts fandom archives, personal websites, and other fandom-related sites. The owner says, "In the event something happens to the webmaster, Squidge.org is slated to be taken over by the same people that have brought you AO3, the Organization for Transformative Works." The site hosts both adult content and copyrighted material.  https://www.squidge.org/Squidge.org/Terms_of_Service.html  and https://lists.squidge.org/wws/help 

Facebook Groups

While their policy on posting Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity (https://www.facebook.com/communitystandards/adult_nudity_sexual_activity/) is reasonably nuanced, it seems to cover anything explicit that would be posted in a fannish context. They do offer image and file uploads up to 100MB per file and  conversations are threaded. Group storage amounts are unclear.   Be aware that even locked or unsearchable Facebook Groups are monitored and they will remove content they believe violates their Terms of Use.  And for many fans,  Facebook’s Terms of Service requiring Real Life Name can be a deterrent.

Chat Servers like Discord or Slack

Slack doesn’t prohibit adult content, but it isn’t explicitly permitted either (https://slack.com/acceptable-use-policy)  It will allow you to manually thread single conversations, but for the most part it operates like any chat channel ...an endless stream of comments. There is 5GB of free file storage but you must pay $6-8 per person to have access to older comments (only the last 10,000 are retained for free accounts). Attachments are permitted up to 1GB in size.  While Slack does not import existing messages, you can export them as text or HTML files and upload them as attachments to a discussion. There is no central file or photo upload area and the search tool searches both discussions (text) and uploaded files photos, which might make it hard to find them.  

Discord

We did not have any volunteers submit information about Discord as an alternative so here are some off the shelf links

What is Discord: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/what-is-discord,review-5203.html

Comparison of Slack vs Discord: https://www.chanty.com/blog/discord-vs-slack/

Other Options

Chrystalline’s write-up of other options: https://chrystalline.dreamwidth.org/728.html

Table: Places To Migrate The Mailing List

Table: Places To Store Exported Messages And Files

I Don’t Want To Start A New Mailing List, But I Want To Save The Archives

If you don’t want to start up the mailing list again, but only want to preserve the mailing list then ask:

1. What do you want to save? The fanworks (fic and art)? The messages? Both?
2. Who do you want to have access to it? The public? Just the list-members? Only fans with a password?

No matter what you decide, your first stop should be Open Doors, an OTW preservation project. They will accept mailing list archives from any moderator or list members and hold onto it until you and your mailing list members can decide what to do.

Open Doors is also looking into ways to archive the fanfiction to AO3. They cannot offer public access to the mailing list messages for privacy reasons.

But you, as list moderator, can make the email messages and files available wherever you decide is appropriate.

Ex: You can pay Groups.io a fee of $220 to migrate your entire list and files and then use their free account. It can sit there and be accessible as a static archive (but remember, no adult content and your deadline is Dec 1, 2019)

Or you can take the exported messages and files and upload them to your own website under password protection or or Mega.nz or Dropbox or Box.com or Google Drive....

Or you can submit a request to the Archive Team that your Group be included in their public collection on the Internet Archive......... The combinations are endless.

I Really Need More Help!

If you need help from fellow fans, try asking on the “Save Yahoo Groups” Discord Channel. Invite: https://discord.gg/ek2xFyJ

Source: 4 Alternatives to Yahoo Groups (2016)