Loomio
Wed 19 Mar 2014 10:50PM

Feature update: new group privacy settings

RG Robert Guthrie Public Seen by 243

Yesterday we released a whole new system for managing the privacy of your groups. Now when you start a new Loomio group, you’ll get the following options:

Open access groups
As part of this feature, we’ve released the first version of ‘open access groups’. Setting your group to ‘open’ means that any Loomio user can join in immediately, without needing an invitation or approval.

New options, new language
We’ve tried to provide a comprehensive set of options without being too confusing. What do you think? Could it be clearer? We’ve had some really great feedback from the community to get to this point – we’d love you to join the conversation if you have anything to add.

BK

Benjamin Knight Thu 20 Mar 2014 2:11AM

I like the direction this is going!

I'm unsure about some of the language - 'publicised' doesn't feel super clear to me.

RDB

Richard D. Bartlett Thu 20 Mar 2014 3:11AM

I've deleted a couple of comments and updated the context so it is not confusing.

For completeness, here's how the subgroup form looks when the parent is listed.

Would love to hear from e.g. @seantilleycommunit and @alanna and @vivienmaidabornloo if these mockups feel like an improvement on the current settings?

AI

Alanna Irving Thu 20 Mar 2014 4:00AM

Where are things "listed"? If I didn't know about the public groups directory, which for example a Pathways user wouldn't really be interested in, I would assume that "listed" would imply visible to people at pathways. This is going to be especially true if we have branded Loomio's - people will assume it refers to within their space.

How about the option reads "include in the public Loomio groups directory" or "Not public, membership by invitation only".

And there's another level of complexity because if I am imagining myself as a Pathways user, I might want a group that can have public to pathways users discussions as we all private group members only can see discussions. If I click "unlisted" and then create a public discussion, is that what I get?

Maybe in order to understand these options I'd need to description of what each possible combination leads to.

RG

Robert Guthrie Thu 20 Mar 2014 8:36PM

Thanks @alanna. Listed includes being indexed by search engines. It means your group is findable on the internet.

Unlisted, public discussions are essentially "anyone with link"

I might want a group that can have public to pathways users

This is different use of the term public.. which you're allowed to do, I guess.. but it sure highlights how hard this job is. In this case I think you mean:

I might want a a group that grants access to pathways users.

In which case I would suggest to you as a user, that you create a subgroup within pathways and check the "Pathways members can see private discussions" checkbox.

JD

Jesse Doud Thu 20 Mar 2014 9:16PM

This is a public group. should we be discussing specific non-public groups in here? @robertguthrie @alanna

RG

Robert Guthrie Thu 20 Mar 2014 9:20PM

@alanna before I had "Listed" there was "findable" @richarddbartlett told me that "findable" is not a word - Which seems like a mistake on behalf of Oxford.

Do you think it would be worth it to invent a new word?

Finable and Joinable
People can find your group on the internet and request to join it

Hidden and Invite only
We will hide your group from search engines and membership is by invitation only.

hidden and invite only

RG

Robert Guthrie Thu 20 Mar 2014 9:21PM

Ignore the last line

RG

Robert Guthrie Thu 20 Mar 2014 9:22PM

@jessedoud yep. I reckon it's ok in it's current from. Afterall we mention them on the frontpage.

JD

Jesse Doud Thu 20 Mar 2014 9:32PM

I think you're right. For future engagement I think I would be more apt to jump in this discussion if it were kept a bit more in the abstract. I'm not super comfy talking about designing for a pathways user, but would be fine about talking about a business org user, or using a persona.

ST

Sean Tilley Fri 21 Mar 2014 6:53PM

I feel like it would be nice to have an additional option to allow anyone to join the sub-group without the need for approval, especially if they're already a member of the parent group.

We have a lot of sub-groups in Diaspora and it gets a little tedious to have to approve everyone that wants to join in.

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