Hashags, Labels & Channels

Effectively organizing and discovering content is crucial for any thriving online community. UNA CMS provides several mechanisms to achieve this: Hashtags (which power Channels), and Labels. Understanding the purpose and application of each allows Operators to configure their site for optimal content navigation and user engagement.

• Hashtags/Channels: Primarily user-driven (though admins can use them too), using the familiar # symbol for organic topic tagging and discovery. The Channels app enhances basic hashtags by making them followable entities.
• Labels: Administrator-defined tags or categories, managed within the Forms app, used for structured organization, status indication, or internal filtering, applied to users or content.

This guide explains these concepts, their differences, and how they are configured within UNA Studio.

Hashtags: The Foundation of User Tagging

Hashtags are keywords or phrases prefixed with the # symbol (e.g., #SpaceTravel, #AlienTech) that users can embed directly within their posts, comments, or other content.

• Purpose: To categorize content organically, link related discussions, and allow users to easily find posts about specific topics.
• Creation: Created dynamically by users simply by typing # followed by a keyword in their content.
• Functionality: Clicking on a hashtag typically leads to a page displaying all public content tagged with that specific hashtag.
• Configuration: Basic hashtag usage is inherent. Operators can set limits via Studio > Settings > Global > General:
  • Max number of hashtags per post: Limits how many hashtags can be added to a single content item.

Channels: Subscribable Hashtags

The Channels app (installed via Studio > App Store) significantly enhances the basic hashtag functionality by transforming hashtags into followable "Channels". This turns simple tagging into a powerful content discovery and subscription mechanism.

• Purpose: Allows users to subscribe to topics they are interested in (represented by hashtags) and receive notifications about new content using that tag. It creates dedicated, followable topic streams.
• Mechanism: Leverages the existing hashtag system. When the Channels app is active, hashtags become more than just links; they become entities users can actively follow.
• Key Features (Enabled by Channels App):
  • Follow Button: Hashtag pages gain a "Follow" (or "Subscribe") button.
  • Dedicated Feeds: Users can access feeds showing content specifically from the channels they follow.
  • Notifications: Users receive notifications when new content is tagged with a channel they follow.
  • Discovery Page: Often adds a dedicated "Channels" page to the site where users can browse popular or recommended hashtags/channels.

As shown in the video context, the Channels app allows users to click a hashtag like #AlienTech, view all related posts, and importantly, click "Follow" to subscribe to future content tagged with #AlienTech. Users can then manage their followed channels.

Channels Configuration (Studio > Channels > Settings)

Operators can fine-tune the Channels app behavior:

• Default author for automatically created channels: (Dropdown/Profile Selector) Select a default profile (often a system or admin profile like 'UNA Inc' in the example) to be the nominal 'creator' when a channel is automatically generated from a new hashtag use.
• Number of items in friends block: (Number) Controls how many channels might be displayed in a "Friends' Channels" or similar block, if used.
• Number of items per page: (Number) Sets how many channels are listed per page on the main channel browsing/discovery page.
• Number of items in RSS feed: (Number) Sets the number of recent items included in the RSS feed for a specific channel.
• Number of items in showcase view: (Number) Controls how many channels appear in featured or showcase blocks.
• Number of items in recommended view: (Number) Sets how many channels appear in recommendation blocks.
• Browse Active: Min number of new posts in channel during the period of time: (Number) Defines the minimum number of posts required within the specified period for a channel to be considered 'Active' in browse results.
• Browse Active: The period of time to count new posts in channel: (Number, likely hours or days) Sets the lookback period used for the 'Active' calculation above.
• Browse Trending: The period of time to count new posts in channel: (Number, likely hours or days) Sets the lookback period for determining 'Trending' channels based on recent post activity.
• Searchable fields: (Checkboxes) Select which fields related to channels should be included in site search results (e.g., Channel Name).
• Auto-follow channels when used as labels in profiles: (Checkbox) A powerful integration point. If checked, and if a Label (see next section) with the exact same text as a Channel/Hashtag is applied to a user's profile, that user will automatically follow the corresponding Channel.

Labels: Administrator-Defined Categorization

Labels provide a distinct, administrator-controlled way to categorize or mark items within UNA. Unlike hashtags, labels are predefined by Operators and applied more formally.

• Purpose: To apply structured tags or statuses to content items or user profiles for administrative organization, filtering, workflow management, or status indication.
• Creation & Management: Labels are created and managed by Operators within the Forms app:
  • Navigate to Studio > Forms.
  • Select the Labels section in the left-hand navigation.
  • Here you can Add new labels, Edit existing ones (pencil icon), or Delete them (cross icon).
• Label Configuration (Edit Modal):
  • Parent: Allows creating hierarchical labels by selecting a parent label. Set to 'No Parent' for top-level labels.
  • Label*: The actual text/name of the label (e.g., "Help", "Featured", "VIP Member", "Needs Review"). This is the required field.
• Application: Labels are typically applied to content or profiles by Administrators or Moderators (with the necessary permissions) using frontend tools or specific admin interfaces, not usually by regular users within content creation forms.
• Structure: Offers a controlled vocabulary, ensuring consistent categorization compared to freeform hashtags.
• Use Cases:
  • Marking content ("Official," "Featured," "Archived").
  • Internal workflows ("Pending Approval," "Resolved").
  • User status ("Verified," "Ambassador," "Beta Tester").
  • Filtering administrative views.
• Configuration:
  • Label Management: Define the available labels in Studio > Forms > Labels.
  • Permissions: Granting the ability to apply labels is done via Membership Levels in Studio > Permissions. Search for actions related to "Labels" or specific module contexts.

"Tags" vs. Hashtags/Channels vs. Labels in UNA

To clarify terminology within UNA:

• User Tagging -> Hashtags: The primary method for users to organically tag content is via #hashtags.
• Subscribable Topics -> Channels: The Channels app elevates #hashtags into followable entities.
• Admin Categorization -> Labels: Predefined, structured tags managed by Operators via the Forms app and applied by admins/mods.

Comparison Table: Channels (Hashtags) vs. Labels

Configuration Summary for Operators

1. For User Tagging & Following (Channels):
   • Ensure the Channels app is installed (Studio > App Store) and active.
   • Configure channel behavior in Studio > Channels > Settings (default author, item counts, trending periods, etc.).
   • Optionally enable the Auto-follow channels when used as labels in profiles setting for automatic subscription based on profile labels.
   • Set limits on hashtag usage per post (Studio > Settings > Global > General).
2. For Admin Categorization (Labels):
   • Ensure the Labels app is installed (Studio > App Store) and active (it might be a core part of Forms).
   • Define the required labels (and hierarchy if needed) in Studio > Forms > Labels.
   • Configure permissions in Studio > Permissions to specify which Admin/Moderator levels can apply labels.

Best Practices

• Label Strategy: Define a clear purpose for each Label and ensure consistent application by admins/mods.
• Hashtag Guidance: Encourage users to use relevant hashtags but consider setting reasonable limits per post.
• Channel Promotion: If using Channels, make users aware of the "Follow" feature for topics.
• Labels vs. Channels: Use Labels for official/admin categorization and Channels for user-driven topic discovery and subscription. Consider the auto-follow feature for linking profile statuses (Labels) to topic interests (Channels).

Conclusion

Hashtags (enhanced by the Channels app) and Labels offer distinct but complementary approaches to organizing content and users in UNA. Channels empower users with organic tagging and topic subscription, while Labels provide Operators and Admins with structured categorization tools managed via the Forms app. By configuring both systems thoughtfully in Studio, Operators can create a rich, navigable, and well-organized community experience.