Community Types & Visibility

Understanding the different types of communities and their visibility settings on the Integrate Pasifika platform. Learn about public, private, and secret communities and how to choose the right type for your needs.

Community Types

Public

Public Communities

Open communities visible to all platform users

Visibility & Access

Visibility: Visible to everyone

Access: Anyone can view and join

Key Features

  • Fully discoverable in community directory
  • Open membership with immediate access
  • Public discussions and content
  • Transparent community information
  • No approval required for joining

Use Cases

  • General interest groups and discussions
  • Public awareness and education campaigns
  • Open collaboration and knowledge sharing
  • Regional networking and professional development

Restrictions

  • Content must comply with platform guidelines
  • No sensitive or confidential information
  • Appropriate for public audiences
  • Moderation required for inappropriate content
Private

Private Communities

Restricted communities for specific groups

Visibility & Access

Visibility: Visible to logged-in users only

Access: Requires approval to join

Key Features

  • Visible in directory to authenticated users
  • Approval-based membership system
  • Private discussions and content
  • Member-only resource access
  • Controlled information sharing

Use Cases

  • Professional networks and associations
  • Project teams and working groups
  • Regional organizations and partnerships
  • Specialized interest groups

Restrictions

  • Membership approval required
  • Content visible only to members
  • Moderate sensitivity acceptable
  • Community owner manages access
Secret

Secret Communities

Exclusive communities with maximum privacy

Visibility & Access

Visibility: Hidden from directory

Access: Invitation-only access

Key Features

  • Completely hidden from public view
  • Invitation-only membership system
  • Maximum privacy and confidentiality
  • Exclusive content and discussions
  • Direct control over membership

Use Cases

  • Confidential project discussions
  • Sensitive policy development
  • Executive leadership groups
  • High-security collaborations

Restrictions

  • Invitation required for access
  • Maximum privacy controls
  • Sensitive content appropriate
  • Strict membership management

Visibility Settings

Public Visibility

Community appears in public directory

Features

  • Listed in community search results
  • Visible to all platform users
  • Public community information displayed
  • Open membership applications

Requirements

  • Community description and guidelines
  • Appropriate content for public audiences
  • Active moderation and management
  • Compliance with platform policies

Authenticated Visibility

Visible only to logged-in users

Features

  • Visible to authenticated users only
  • Approval-based membership system
  • Controlled information sharing
  • Member-only content access

Requirements

  • Clear membership criteria
  • Approval process for new members
  • Moderate content sensitivity
  • Active community management

Hidden Visibility

Completely hidden from directory

Features

  • Not visible in community directory
  • Invitation-only access system
  • Maximum privacy and confidentiality
  • Direct member management

Requirements

  • Invitation system for new members
  • High-level privacy requirements
  • Sensitive content handling
  • Strict access controls

Membership Models

Open Membership

Anyone can join without approval

Features

  • Immediate access upon joining
  • No approval process required
  • Suitable for public communities
  • Quick community growth

Use Cases

  • Public interest groups
  • Educational communities
  • Open networking groups
  • General discussion forums

Approval Required

Membership requires approval from community owner

Features

  • Application review process
  • Controlled community growth
  • Quality member screening
  • Owner discretion over membership

Use Cases

  • Professional networks
  • Specialized interest groups
  • Project teams
  • Regional organizations

Invitation Only

Membership by invitation only

Features

  • Exclusive membership control
  • Direct invitation system
  • Maximum privacy and security
  • Hand-picked membership

Use Cases

  • Confidential projects
  • Executive groups
  • Sensitive collaborations
  • High-security communities

Ready to Create Your Community?

Choose the right community type for your needs and start building your community of practice on the Integrate Pasifika platform.