XF 2.3 ?

[Mendalla]

Couldn’t it just be done with user groups?

How? You'd still need an admin to create the miniforum. Users can't create nodes as it stands. The type of groups being discussed are created by the users, not the admins, and then they choose whether to make them public (anyone can join) or private (invite only). There is a third party XF add-on for something like this now. Not sure how it works, though, since I don't (and probably wouldn't) use it.

 

[Mr Lucky]

Not sure how it works, though, since I don't (and probably wouldn't) use it.

Nor me

 

[briansol]

Sounds like you want a native app then? I think that’s the only way you are going to be able to integrate things like sharing from your camera roll. Effectively vBulletin Mobile Suite, but (hopefully) something that isn’t complete crap like vB Mobile Suite is.

The good news is XenForo has a pretty good underlying API system (what you ideally need to build native apps).

Integrate with the OS sharing UI with the Web Share API | Articles | web.dev

With the Web Share API, web apps are able to use the same system-provided share capabilities as platform-specific apps. The Web Share API makes it possible for web apps to share links, text, and files to other apps installed on the device in the same way as platform-specific apps.

web.dev

pwa supports sharing without the need for a native app. even if it doesn't work everywhere/every device, it's a start.
i mentioned it 20 pages ago

XF 2.3 ?

I wish this would come out soon, it's embarrassing the competition is even making fun of Xenforo now. https://www.theadminzone.com/threads/why-you-do-not-want-to-host-your-community-on-a-software-cloud-plan.154769/post-1177299 Let the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

xenforo.com

and suggested it 2 years ago

enable PWA share targets

https://chodounsky.com/2019/03/24/progressive-web-application-as-a-share-option-in-android/ webmanifest.php does not have share_target integrated, but it should. Suggestion is to support the share_target of PWA's, even if it is only for android.

xenforo.com

 

[digitalpoint]

Integrate with the OS sharing UI with the Web Share API | Articles | web.dev

With the Web Share API, web apps are able to use the same system-provided share capabilities as platform-specific apps. The Web Share API makes it possible for web apps to share links, text, and files to other apps installed on the device in the same way as platform-specific apps.

web.dev

pwa supports sharing without the need for a native app. even if it doesn't work everywhere/every device, it's a start.
i mentioned it 20 pages ago

XF 2.3 ?

I wish this would come out soon, it's embarrassing the competition is even making fun of Xenforo now. https://www.theadminzone.com/threads/why-you-do-not-want-to-host-your-community-on-a-software-cloud-plan.154769/post-1177299 Let the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

xenforo.com

and suggested it 2 years ago

enable PWA share targets

https://chodounsky.com/2019/03/24/progressive-web-application-as-a-share-option-in-android/ webmanifest.php does not have share_target integrated, but it should. Suggestion is to support the share_target of PWA's, even if it is only for android.

xenforo.com

Ah... well seems like it should be fairly easy then? If it's something your user base would use and wants, might be worth considering paying a dev for a couple hours work to do it just for your site and then you have a feature that sets your site apart from competitors?

 

[briansol]

I would, but the thing is.... something like this not only SHOULD be in the system, it's a complete gap in today's mobile-first world. Like to me, this is a Sev 1, all hands on deck move that makes XF relevant again for our user bases. This is so much larger than me or my site.

Winning folks back will be hard, but this will help make all of our forums a first-thought instead of an after thought.

John is a member of a fishing site, catches a fish, snaps a pic, goes to share his picture, and suddenly, fishingforums.com is an option instead of instagram! how awesome is that!

let's not be forgotten.

 

[Mendalla]

fishingforums.com is an option instead of instagram! how awesome is that!

Why, when all his fellow fisherfolk are on Insta? When many, many more possible people are on Insta to oo and ah over the catch? You're not going to beat Instagram (or any of Meta's properties) for media sharing with a forum in 2023. At best, you might get him to embed his Instagram image in a post where he discusses how he caught that amazing fish with the other fisherfolk.

 

[digitalpoint]

I would, but the thing is.... something like this not only SHOULD be in the system, it's a complete gap in today's mobile-first world. Like to me, this is a Sev 1, all hands on deck move that makes XF relevant again for our user bases. This is so much larger than me or my site.

Winning folks back will be hard, but this will help make all of our forums a first-thought instead of an after thought.

John is a member of a fishing site, catches a fish, snaps a pic, goes to share his picture, and suddenly, fishingforums.com is an option instead of instagram! how awesome is that!

let's not be forgotten.

I guess it makes sense for people who like to share stuff. I'm definitely the wrong person to give opinion on it though, I think social media is a waste of time and has never solved a problem for me personally (I never was like, "You know what I need in my life? The ability to see what other people are doing or for others that aren't with me already to know what I'm doing...") haha

It's definitely something I would personally disable/gut if it made it's way to XenForo core on all my XenForo sites. Not trying to have users spamming random social media-like things there. But again... I know I'm the minority, plenty of others like silly things like Instagram or Facebook. I'm an engineer, not a socialite. haha

 

[briansol]

you wouldn't want to see images from a conference or something show up on your platform, to monetize, first? take the social aspect out of it, if Bill Gates is speaking and john q user shares the latest new release thingee to your site first, isn't that beneficial to your site as the authority?

don't think about it is a social media thing. think of it as a fresh, new content thing.



And to the above comment, about the fiesherfolk being on insta -- maybe a few are. close friends from the forum, but the rest of the people on his feed probably just don't care.

would you advertise Air Jordans at a senior center?
or 401k /financial advisor at a preschool?

maybe someone is interested, but the target audience is somewhere else.

look at my kids on insta.
look at my fish on fishinforums.com or whatever

 

[digitalpoint]

you wouldn't want to see images from a conference or something show up on your platform, to monetize, first? take the social aspect out of it, if Bill Gates is speaking and john q user shares the latest new release thingee to your site first, isn't that beneficial to your site as the authority?

don't think about it is a social media thing. think of it as a fresh, new content thing.

Unless it’s a photo or video of something I need to see for something like an engineering project. No, not interested in images or video whatsoever.

I have zero interest in consuming content unless there’s an actual need to do so.

 

[briansol]

but it's not for you. it's for your users. and search engines. increasing traffic, and ultimately, selling ads for profit.

 

[digitalpoint]

but it's not for you. it's for your users. and search engines. increasing traffic, and ultimately, selling ads for profit.

Won’t be for my users because as I said, I’ll disable it. It’s just not the type of sites I run.

To give an example of how much I care about SEO/search engine traffic or ads (or even “profit” for that matter), this is one of my XenForo sites:

Reliquary

Giving the people what they want

rlqry.com

 

[briansol]

 

[FTL]

Won’t be for my users because as I said, I’ll disable it. It’s just not the type of sites I run.

To give an example of how much I care about SEO/search engine traffic or ads (or even “profit” for that matter), this is one of my XenForo sites:

Reliquary

Giving the people what they want

rlqry.com

What's your site about if you don't mind?

 

[digitalpoint]

What's your site about if you don't mind?

If I told you, then it would be of less value for users.

 

[FTL]

If I told you, then it would be of less value for users.

Can I join then? Or tell me in pm? I'm so curious.

 

[digitalpoint]

Can I join then? Or tell me in pm? I'm so curious.

No, sorry. Invite codes are generated by existing (approved) members. The invite code allows you to "apply", so not guaranteed even then (there's a vetting and voting process on new applicants). The whole process is more effort than it's worth just for a peek, and if the voting panel sees your application pop up and the application sucks, then it becomes a question of why I invited this person and wasted everyone's time. lol

Additionally, if an approved member talks about what it is anywhere and it's found out, their membership is revoked. It's kinda fun and very exclusive.

 

[FTL]

Ok np.

 

[sbj]

All hail our cult leader digitalpoint

 

[TPerry]

What exactly are social groups and why would they be a good thing?

Similar to this

Clubs

astrowhat.com

It allows (for my site) the ability to have interaction for certain geographical areas and associated members that are interested in the topic to discourse/plan amongst themselves without getting lost in the noise of the site overall, and those groups are end user generated (by permissions).
I can see the function being useful for many niche areas like vehicles (cars, motorcycles, RV, aircraft), outdoors related activities (bicycles/trikes/hiking), political related sites. For a general chat type environment, they probably would not be as useful.

 

[beerForo]

Chris D dropping click bait to the Suggestions forum lol.