New (0)
New users are visitors who have just created an account. They are still learning the rules and the way our forum works. Whether accidentally, or intentionally, new users can cause problems, so they need to earn trust.
Some “advanced” functionality is hidden from new users to make the UI less confusing for them and gently land them on the deeper UI as they get more experienced.
Thus, new users’ abilities are restricted for safety – both yours and ours.
Users at trust level 0 cannot:
- Send private messages to other users
- Reply as new topic in the right gutter (UI removed)
- Flag posts
- Post any images
- Post any attachments
- Post more than 2 hyperlinks in a post
- Have actual links in the ‘about me’ field of their profile (will be silently and temporarily converted to plain text)
- Mention more than 2 users in a post
Basic (1)
If a user sticks around long enough to read a bit, we trust them as a basic user.
They can get to trust level 1 by…
- entering at least 15 topics
- reading at least 40 posts
- spend a total of 30 minutes reading posts
Users at trust level 1 can…
- use all core Discourse functions
- have all new user restrictions removed
- See and post new topics in the Developers category
Member (2)
Members keep coming back, they’re the people you see around a lot. If basic users are part time users, members are full time users. They come back often enough that you know you’ll see them again soon – they can be trusted to be present enough to actively participate and be held accountable.
They can get to trust level 2 by…
- visiting at least 15 days, not sequentially
- casting at least 1 like
- receiving at least 1 like
- replying to at least 3 different topics
- entering at least 20 topics
- reading at least 100 posts
- spend a total of 60 minutes reading posts
Users at trust level 2 can…
- Use the “Invite others to this topic” button for one-click onboarding of new users to participate in topics
- Invite outside users to PMs making a group PM
- See and post new topics in the Mobile Beta category
Regular (3)
Regulars are some of the most active and prolific contributors. They set the tone for everyone else and set an example by what actions they take, and the posts and replies that they contribute.
They can get to trust level 3 by…
This is time and activity based, unlike the previous levels. In the last 100 days…
- A number of private and unpublished criteria, however the 2 following should be observed as they are automatic disqualifiers for TL3:
- must not have received more than 2 spam or offensive flags (with unique posts and unique users for each, confirmed by a moderator)
- must not have been suspended
Unlike other trust levels, you can lose trust level 3 status. If you dip below the requirements, whether from flagging or the passage of time, you will be demoted to Member. However, in order to avoid constant promotion/demotion situations, there is a 2-week grace period immediately after gaining Trust Level 3 during which you will not be demoted.
Users at trust level 3 can…
- have all their links followed (we remove automatic nofollow)
- Recategorize and rename topics
- Automactically hide spam posts from view by flagging it appropriately
Users at trust level 3 should…
- Use their discretion on whether to report a post as off-topic, inappropriate, spam, or other (more info).
- Be lenient on topics tagged with new members and we need to maintain a good balance of having good constructive responses and we are trying to pull these members to be a part of our community.
- Be respectful to the community at large (from the new members, to the experienced members, to staff).