Private Topics & Prefixes

Two features that give you finer control over individual topics - mark sensitive topics private so only you and moderators can see them, and use colored prefixes to classify topics at a glance in the space listing.

What You Will Learn

• How to mark a topic as private and who can read it
• How to enable topic prefixes for a space
• How to create, edit, and color prefixes
• How prefixes appear in the space listing and topic page
• When to choose a private topic over a private space

Private Topics

A private topic is visible only to its author and to space moderators. Other members of the space cannot see it in the listing, cannot find it through search, and cannot open its URL directly - they receive a “not found” response instead.

Use private topics for:

• Support requests that include account details, order numbers, or personal information
• Reports of abuse or harassment where naming the other member in public would escalate the situation
• Personal asks to a space owner that do not need a full private message thread
• Sensitive billing or legal questions where a full support ticket is too formal

Private Topics Are Always Available

There is no setting to turn private topics on or off. Every signed-in member sees the Private checkbox in the new post composer, in every space.

Creating a Private Topic

A Private: only you and moderators can see this topic checkbox appears near the bottom of the new post composer. Tick it before submitting and your topic is flagged as private.

To change it later, open the topic’s More options menu and choose Make Private or Make Public. Only the topic author and moderators see that menu.

Private topics show a Private badge next to the title on the topic page. The badge is visible only to you and to moderators (other members cannot see the topic at all).

Who Can See Private Topics

Role	Can see private topics?
Topic author	Yes
Space moderators	Yes
Space owner	Yes
WP admins	Yes
Other space members	No
Logged-out visitors	No

A moderator can reply to a private topic, mark it resolved, or escalate it to a full support ticket using whatever workflow your community has. The topic author is notified of replies the same way they would be on a normal topic.

Note: Private topics are different from private spaces. A private space gates all of its content behind membership - a person either has access to everything in it or nothing at all. A private topic is a one-off exception inside an otherwise public space. Pick private spaces for ongoing confidential work (staff lounges, paying customer lounges) and private topics for one-off sensitive conversations.

Topic Prefixes

Prefixes are colored labels that appear in front of topic titles in the space listing. They let members classify topics at a glance - Bug, Question, Solved, Announcement, Discussion, and so on.

Prefixes are configured per space by the space owner. Different spaces can have entirely different prefix sets - a support space might use Bug, Question, Solved, while a marketing space might use Idea, Campaign, Report.

Enabling and Creating Prefixes

Go to Jetonomy → Spaces → (your space) → Settings and find Topic Prefixes.

1. Tick Enable topic prefixes for this space.
2. Click + Add Prefix.
3. Type a short Label (up to 50 characters).
4. Pick a color with the color input.
5. Click Save Settings.

Repeat for each prefix you want. Click the × next to a prefix to remove it. A prefix needs both a label and a color to be saved. A topic that already used a removed prefix keeps showing its label, but no longer in the prefix’s color.

Space admins can also turn prefixes on from the space’s front-end edit screen.

Using a Prefix When Creating a Topic

When prefixes are enabled and at least one exists, a Prefix (optional) dropdown appears in the new post composer. Members pick one prefix per topic, or leave it blank. There is no setting to require a prefix.

Where Prefixes Appear

• In the space listing next to the topic title
• On the topic page, in the topic header next to the title

Prefixes are plain labels. Clicking one does not filter the listing.

Prefix Color Guidelines

• Use high-contrast colors for critical prefixes (Bug in red, Announcement in blue)
• Use muted colors for passive prefixes (Discussion in grey)
• Avoid using green except for Solved or Done - green is a strong “resolved” signal
• Avoid using red except for critical prefixes - red grabs attention

What’s Next?

Return to Creating Topics for a full walkthrough of the new post composer, or continue to the next discussion guide.