What Are Isolated Groups?

Isolated groups are designed to restrict visibility and interaction between members who are part of different groups. When a group is marked as "Isolated," its members:

• Can only see and interact with other members within the same isolated group.

• Cannot message or view members outside of their isolated group.

• Will not appear in the member directory for users outside their group.

• Can be in both an isolated group and a non-isolated group simultaneously, but DMs will remain restricted.

This is useful for private cohorts, exclusive groups, or communities that need controlled member access within certain spaces.

In this article:

1. What Are Isolated Groups?

2. How Isolation Affects Messaging, Visibility, and Channels

   • Direct Messaging (DMs)

   • Member Directory

   • Channels and Threads

3. Common Issues & How to Fix Them

   • Issue 1: Members Cannot Find or Message Others in the Directory

   • Issue 2: Members Cannot DM Certain Users Despite Sharing a Channel

   • Issue 3: Online Member Count Varies or Feels Incomplete

   • Issue 4: Users Are Confused About Why They Can See Some Members in Channels But Not Message Them

4. How to Adjust Isolation Settings

How Isolation Affects Messaging, Visibility, and Channels

1. Direct Messaging (DMs)

• Members of an isolated group cannot DM members outside their group.

• If a user belongs to both an isolated group and a non-isolated group, they still cannot DM others outside their isolated group, even if they share a non-isolated space.

2. Member Directory

• Users will only see members from their isolated group in the member directory.

• If a user is part of both an isolated group and a non-isolated group, they will see members from the non-isolated group in the directory but still cannot DM them.

3. Channels and Threads

• If an isolated group member is added to a public channel where non-isolated members participate:

  • They will see messages and interact in the channel as expected.

  • They can reply to and engage with posts within the channel but still cannot send private DMs to members outside their group.

  • Other members who are not part of the isolated group may not be able to find or message them privately.

Common Issues & How to Fix Them

Members Cannot Find or Message Others in the Directory

Cause: They are in an isolated group and can only see members within that group. Fix: Add them to a non-isolated group if they need broader access.

Members Cannot DM Certain Users Despite Sharing a Channel

Cause: Even though they share a channel, DM rules follow group isolation settings. Fix: Ensure both users are in a non-isolated group where messaging is allowed.

Online Member Count Varies or Feels Incomplete

Cause: The member directory only shows users within the same group(s).

Fix: If members need broader visibility, consider adjusting isolation settings.

Users Are Confused About Why They Can See Some Members in Channels But Not Message Them

Cause: Being in a shared channel doesn’t override isolation rules for DMs.

Fix: Admins should clarify that isolation affects private messaging, not shared spaces.

How to Adjust Isolation Settings

To Enable/Disable Isolation for a Group:

1. Go to Manage Groups in your Heartbeat settings.

2. Select the group you want to edit.

3. Toggle the "Isolated Group" setting ON/OFF as needed.

4. Click Save Changes.

Final Notes

✅ Isolated groups are best for exclusive member access, private cohorts, and controlled interactions.
✅ If you want a mix of public and private experiences, consider adding members to both an isolated and non-isolated group for better flexibility.
✅ If members report issues with visibility, DMs, or missing users, check their group settings first.

Still have questions? Reach out to support@heartbeat.chat for assistance! 🚀