How to keep your name hidden
Sometimes a member may want to participate in a conversation, but not share his identity with the rest of the community. There are two different ways to hide identity within the IdeaScale Platform. They have different functionalities and features so please consider your communities goals before turning on either.
Hide my Identity
By turning on the 'Hide my Identity' feature IdeaScale allows members to hide their avatar picture, first name, last name from other users (email address, by default, is always hidden).
The option to hide identity throughout the community is available right from the beginning when a member joins a community. **This option will be displayed only if the administrator has enabled it in the community.
Location for Admin: Community Settings >> Customization >> Customize Site Behavior >> User Profile Screen
Here you will see three privacy settings:
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Force Community-Wide Anonymity: Every member in the community will be anonymous (members will not be given a choice). This means all the members now will be labeled as 'Community Members'
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Hide My Identity: This allows members to choose if they want to be anonymous or not in the community. They can turn this off at any time in their personal settings.
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Default Value for 'Hide My Identity: When turned on, the identity of any new user is by default 'Hidden'. The member can change this and become public if they wish.
For both Force Community-wide Anonymity and Hide My Identity when the admin exports data they will be able to see the identity of members. For example, with these features enabled if an admin export the idea report they can see who submitted what idea. If you do not want users' identities to ever be exposed please use the private idea submissions feature.
Community Member Location: Personal Settings>>>Profile Information>>>Community Identities
A member can choose the hide / unhide their profile easily from the profile settings:
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When a user happens to be a member of multiple communities he has the choice to keep his identity 'Hidden' in a few selected communities by clicking on the checkbox.
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Unchecked boxes in front of the community name indicate that the user has not opted to hide his identity in those communities.
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The words '(Not Applicable)' indicate that the Community Administrator has decided against allowing 'Hidden Identity' and turned off the settings to do so. In these communities, the member has no option to remain anonymous.
FAQ's
By using this feature can users remain completely anonymous at IdeaScale, even to the community administrator?
No. A user must register and verify their email/identity with IdeaScale (unless the community is SSO), but their identity is known only to the account administrator (admin can run an export of ideas to see names). Our research and other research in the idea management space have proven that the lack of accountability in total anonymity is severely damaging to the integrity of the community. (This style of anonymity also potentially leads to an uncomfortable workplace atmosphere outside of IdeaScale).
Can this feature be turned on only for specific campaigns?
No. This feature is an 'all or nothing' for the community. If you need specific campaigns to have private idea submission please read about our 'Submit Idea Anonymously' feature.
What happens to my ideas if I was once hidden and then changed my settings to public?
All your ideas and activities will now show your name.
Submit Idea Anonymously
This feature is located on the campaign level and can vary between campaigns.
Path: CommunitySettings>>Engagement>>Campaigns>>Update Campaign>>Basic Information>>> Privacy and Access
This feature allows members to submit ideas and comment anonymously in a specific campaign while in other campaigns the member's name will still appear. The admin can choose if ideas are anonymous by default or if the members can decide if they want to submit privately or not.
When submitting an idea members will have to enable the "Submit Idea Anonymously" switch to have their idea be private.
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Note: Co-submitters cannot be added for ideas being submitted anonymously.
Every member will have to enable the checkbox "Submit Comment Anonymously" in order to hide their identity.
FAQ's
As an Admin or Moderator, can I see who submitted the idea?
No, there is currently no way to reveal the author of that idea or comment. When you export the information it will show as 'Community member' under Author.
I submitted an idea privately and now want it to be public, is that possible?
No, once an idea has been submitted anonymously, anonymity may not be revoked.
For more information about private ideas click here.
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