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.

How to Enable/Disable Isolation for a Group

Admin Settings > Members > Manage Groups

1. Go to Access Groups in your Heartbeat settings.

2. Select the group and press "Edit" on the 3-dot menu.

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

4. Click Save Changes.
   

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.