This article...
- Describes how users can post or reply anonymously with the Anonymous Posting feature.
- Explains how anonymous posting can be enabled site-wide or for specific communities, and even for specific post types.
- Details moderation options, such as queuing anonymous posts for review before publishing.
- Discusses the Anonymous Posting report, which allows admins to track anonymous posts.
- Explains how to set customizable notifications and disclaimers to inform users posting anonymously about privacy and conduct expectations.
Anonymous Posting in your community site
Admins can give their users the option to anonymously post discussion threads and questions via the Anonymous Posting feature. This feature is available in all Higher Logic communities.
Obviously, it is preferred that users identify themselves when they post content, but allowing anonymous posting might entice some of your more reluctant members to start a discussion or ask a question that they otherwise don't feel comfortable posting.
NOTE: You can enable the Anonymous Posting feature for your entire community site or you can limit it to select communities.
Access the Anonymous Posting page
- In the Admin Toolbar, click Admin.
- Navigate to Community > Discussions > Anonymous Posting.
Anonymous Posting settings
On the Anonymous Posting page, you can manage the settings as described in the table below.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Allow anonymous posting | Toggle to control whether users can anonymously post discussions and questions. If set to Yes, the remaining fields are enabled and the anonymous option displays to users (refer to How to post anonymously, below). |
| Allow anonymous posts for these communities | Accept the default (All Communities) or click the dropdown to limit the feature to select communities. |
| Allow anonymity for these types of posts |
Click the dropdown and select either:
|
| Moderate anonymous posting regardless of community moderation settings | Check the box to force anonymous posts to the Moderation Queue, irrespective of a community's moderation setting (refer to Anonymous posts and Moderation, below). If unchecked, anonymous posts respect the host community's moderation setting. |
| Log user information for auditing purposes | Check the box to log the anonymous poster's user information to the Anonymous Posting Log report, where Super Admins can review information about each user who posts anonymously (refer to Anonymous Posting Log report, below). |
| Messaging for visible alert when posting or replying anonymously |
The message that displays to users who check the box to anonymously
post or reply. This could explain why anonymous posting is allowed
or remind anonymous posters to respect the community's Code of
Conduct.
|
| Messaging for popup alert when message is posted |
The confirmation message that displays to users who anonymously
post.
It can be used to remind users that no electronic communication
is
completely untraceable or customized with a message that is specific
to your community site.
|
| Prefix added to all anonymous posts or replies |
The message that displays with all anonymous posts. This can
be customized to let members know that the poster chose to remain
anonymous.
|
How to post anonymously
When Anonymous Posting is enabled, the "anonymous" checkbox displays to users when they are posting a discussion or a question. (The checkbox label reflects the content type.)
This checkbox displays only if the feature has been enabled:
- site wide or
- if it is limited it to select communities, the user is posting in one of those communities.
The post in the community reflects the user's preference for anonymity:
- "Anonymous Member" replaces the user's name.
- A message indicates that the user is voluntarily posting anonymously. (This text is managed with the Prefix added to all anonymous posts or replies setting that is described above).
Edit an anonymous post
Discussion threads and questions that are anonymously posted can be edited via the Edit option in the ellipsis icon (...) menu on the post's details page, unless the post is in moderation, as described in the next section.
Anonymous posts and Moderation
Anonymous posts will be sent to the Moderation Queue if, either:
- the Moderate anonymous posting regardless of community moderation settings checkbox is selected on the Anonymous Posting page, or
- the community has a moderation setting enabled.
While in the Moderation Queue, the post can be edited only by an Admin and only in that queue (Settings > Moderation).
If the post is approved, it displays in the community where it can be managed like any other post.
Anonymous Posting Log report
If the Anonymous Posting feature is enabled, its unique activity is logged to a dedicated report for convenience. The Anonymous Posting Log report records information about users who have chosen to anonymously post discussions and questions.
NOTE: The Anonymous Posting Log report records anonymous posters' user information strictly for use by Super Admins.
To access the Anonymous Posting Log report:
- In the Admin Toolbar, click Admin.
- Navigate to Community > Reports > Discussions.
- Scroll down and next to Anonymous Posting Log, click View Report.
The Anonymous Posting Log page opens in a new tab. On this page you can:
- Specify a Start Date and End Date to find reports in a range of dates.
- Click Export Report to download the report.
- Click the Name to open their profile in a new tab.
- Click the Subject to open the post in a new tab.