Forum Update (September 26th, 2023)
Forum Update: "Last Active" Filter Replaces "Popular"
Hello everyone,
I'd like to inform you of a minor adjustment to our forum community. We will replace the "Popular" filter with a new filter called "Last Active." This change was implemented to address concerns raised by members about the visibility of newly created posts with no replies. This change will only take place within communities and not on the forum homepage (See example below):
In the past, the "Popular" filter only displayed threads that had received some interactions. This meant that posts without any replies were often hidden unless you specifically selected the "Needs reply" option. We recognized that this setup may have been discouraging engagement with new posts.
With the introduction of the "Last Active" filter, our goal is to improve this situation. The "Last Active" filter will now show all posts, including those with zero replies, and they will be sorted by the most recent timestamp of either the initial post or a reply.
We believe that this change will make it easier for everyone to discover and participate in new discussions, particularly those that might have previously gone unnoticed. We highly value your feedback and hope that this adjustment enhances your forum experience.
We appreciate your involvement in our community and look forward to your continued contributions.
The update is now live!
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@CheeryMango
Sounds like a good change, to bring more visibility for threads!
How is "last active" filter different from the "recent" filter, though?😮
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
- Last Active: This filter sorts threads based on the most recent timestamp of either the initial post or a reply within the thread. It ensures that you see threads that have had recent activity, whether it's a new post or a reply to an existing one.
- Recent: The "Recent" filter, on the other hand, typically sorts threads solely based on the creation date of the initial post. This means that even if there hasn't been any new activity within a thread, it can still appear at the top of the list if it was recently created.
@CheeryMango
Thank you, it does seem a little confusing still with how the two appear to overlap each other, in a way.
I wonder if the "recent" tab serves any purpose even after incorporating a "last active" filter now?😮
As I'm guessing the last active filter's purpose would be inclusive of both (earlier) "popular filter" (that shows recent activity even for older threads) plus the (current) "recent filter" (that currently shows new/ recent threads?). Or did I miss something here?😅
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
Great observation, Sun! It's understandable that there might be some confusion with these two filters, so let me clarify their roles:
For the last active filter, it's all about keeping you updated on ongoing discussions, regardless of when they were originally created.
And the recent filter is more about highlighting what's fresh and hasn't been explored yet.
So, you didn't miss anything, but you've highlighted an important point. While "Last Active" covers both newer posts and recent activity in older threads, the "Recent" tab is still valuable for those who specifically want to explore the latest discussions, including those without replies. It's all about giving you options and catering to different preferences within the community.
I hope this helps clarify the distinction between the two filters! If you have any more questions or thoughts, feel free to share them.
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
So sorry, the change is only for inside a forum community, not the forum homepage. That will remain the same
thank you for the update!
@CheeryMango
Great change and update 💕💕💕💕👍👍👍👍
@CheeryMango
I think that is a great thing that you have revamped/ I personally as a Forum Supporter became very discouraged to have my post removed, or even get no reply😊. I hope this works❤️
@CheeryMango
This change makes the forums much more supportive.
"Popular" on top produced a feedback loop ("popular" threads became even more "popular", and so on) and as you say, people posting new threads seeking support were invisible to most users, who might not use the "Recent" filter, but browse the forums as they appear by default.
This one and Recent are the most supportive views of the Forums, I think.
A thoughtful and very welcome change.
@CheeryMango
Great! Thanks for the update
@CheeryMango
Great update !