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Creating and running the chat

If you're adding a non-yet-existing community and looking for some tips on creating your chat.

Channel granularity​

Most platforms let you make multiple sub-chats within a community, for example WhatsApp communities or Discord channels. It might be tempting to create as many as you can think of, but many people can feel quite overwhelmed by it all so it's ok to just have 1 place to talk for a start, and then if that gets busy and there's conversation patterns emerging you can split it up.

Spam protection​

Your community URL is visible publicly, so it might invite some spam bots and scammers. Here's a couple ways you can protect yourself against that:

  • WhatsApp:
    • You can enable an "approve new members" functionality which means that you have to allow the person to join first. It feels a little unfriendly but does give you a buffer if you struggle with bots
    • Change the group setting to only allow you to add new numbers so that if a bot did slip in they can't bring an army with them
    caution

    Make sure that your link still works

  • Discord
    • Increase the verification level
    • Enable automod
    • Restrict channel permissions
    • Some people create "DO NOT DM THIS PERSON" or "DO NOT SPEAK IN THIS CHANNEL" items which automatically ban the account if it interacts with them
  • Facebook
    • You can enable approve or deny member requests or enable membership questions
    • You can enable Admin Assist to prevent posts that are seen as spam by the system, or enable post approval

Community management​

Expectations​

In today's world of engagement and numbers, you will probably expect 100 people to join your group or you will think of it as a failure. You're probably used to seeing all the other online group chats and events and communities that try to get as many people as possible.

The idea behind Hexlink is a little different and you want to focus on the quality of your community and the strength of bonds you make rather than on pure numbers. So if you have 4-6 people that's actually huge.

That said, the app is very new and it will take a while for anyone to join as people discover it. Don't let this get you down - just create it, let it sit and enable notifications for when someone does find it.

Welcoming the first person​

Congrats, you got your first friend! Well this is awkward, it's just the two of you...

You should still get to know them. Ask the basics

  • Name
  • Age
  • What do you do in life?
  • What do you like to do in your free time?
  • How long have you lived in the area?
  • How did you hear about this? What lonely demons brought you here?

For the rest on keeping it alive, check out the making and maintaining friendships page.