Claus

Public Key

npub1prsl8py337q4v5aagmachznzrpv6gldp9cu9lktff09326xux36s9y0q6j

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claus@friendica-myfediverse-net.mostr.pub

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nprofile1qqsq3c0nsjgclq2k2w75d7ut3f3pskdy0ksjuwzlm955hjc4drwrgagpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0ds6l49z2

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npub1prsl8py337q4v5aagmachznzrpv6gldp9cu9lktff09326xux36s9y0q6j

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Last Notes

2026-03-26 07:14:29 UTC

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@nprofile…0ys8 Hello Joseph,
I'm not sure about the documentation—it's often a bit outdated. I also think "Groups" were once called "Forums" or something similar, so that name might still appear occasionally in the docs.
I can share my two cents, though I'll admit I confused myself trying to piece things together.
You can create a new group on the /network page by clicking the + button next to Groups. If I remember correctly, a menu opens for creating a new user (which is a bit confusing). Groups in Friendica seem to be user accounts, so you essentially create a new "user." From the dropdown menu next to your profile image, you can select accounts, and the new user should be visible there. Select that new user to switch accounts, then go to Settings for the new account. There, you can change the account type to make it a "group" account.
One thing that has annoyed many people is the assumption that groups are private and only members can see posts. That's not the case - anyone can see the posts. @nprofile…etva suggested that only group members can POST to a group, but anyone can READ. This makes sense, but I haven't verified it myself. The documentation doesn't really make this clear.
When you require new users to be authorized and someone requests to join, the new user/group account receives a notification. However, at least for me, that notification isn't visible in your normal user account, so you constantly have to watch your group account. This is inconvenient for one group and impossible for several. But maybe there's a way to handle this that I don't know about.
There's another confusing aspect that maybe experienced users can clarify. When someone requests to join a group (for which authorization is required) , you're presented with an option on how to accept them. I can't remember the exact wording, but it was something like "Follower" and "Not-Follower." I'm not sure what the right choice here is.

2026-03-22 15:32:44 UTC

Subject: Groups Feature Confusion
Hi everyone,
I find the groups feature in Friendica very confusing, and it's a common criticism I hear from others.
**Group Creation:** When I create a group, I first create a normal user account and then change the account type. It was confusing at first, but I've gotten used to it.
**Permissions Display:** At the top of posts, I see an exclamation mark with the group handle (!helpers...), but there's also a separate permissions tab showing "friends." My understanding is that all group members can see the post regardless of friendship status. How do these two pieces of information work together?
**Restricted Groups:** I can set a group to "public - restricted." This means people must be accepted to join, but I was told group posts are visible to anyone, member or not. So what exactly does "restricted" control? If I reject someone, they can still see the posts, so it does not seem to restrict access, but what?
In my opinion, having group posts be publicly visible is counter-intuitive and has caused a lot of annoyance among my friends.
**Join Request Notifications:** To approve join requests, I have to switch to the group account. There's no notification on my normal user account, so I easily miss requests and have to constantly check the accounts page. Is there a better way to handle this?
Thanks for any clarification!

2026-01-14 08:56:35 UTC

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@nprofile…lz42 Ja, man muss auch nicht autorisiert werden. jeder kann beitreten. Die Gruppe ist öffentlich. Aber es geht hier um Gruppen, denen man nur nach Zustimmung beitreten kann. Das impliziert (so hat das JEDER von uns hier verstanden), dass Posts auch nur von Mitgliedern gesehen werden können. Alles andere täuscht Privatsphaere vor, die nicht gegeben ist.

2026-01-14 08:41:54 UTC

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@nprofile…lz42 Warum eine Gruppe, wenn alles oeffentlich ist? Eine Gruppe impliziert einen kleinen Benutzerkreis. Das ist die Definition von Gruppe. Warum sollten Posts von Mitgliedern in einer Gruppe, wo man die sich anmelden muss und "reingelasssen werden muss", oeffentlich sein? Warum dieser "approval" Schritt, wenn alles oeffentlich ist? Das mach IMHO ueberhaupt keinen Sinn und taeuscht Privatsphaere vor, die nicht gegeben ist.

2026-01-14 07:59:58 UTC

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@nprofile…lz42 Danke fuer die Antwort. Posts in einer Gruppe, die neue Mitglieder nur nach Zustimmung zulaesst, sind oeffentlich? Wirklich? IMHO ist das ein gravierender!! Bug, da JEDER in unserer Gruppe automatisch davon ausgeht, dass Posts in solchen Gruppen auch nur von autorisierten Gruppenmitgliedern gelesen werden koennen. Alles andere macht IMHO keinen Sinn.