# Moderator Shield Icon
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [January 7, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420 "2018-01-07T15:49:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@RobMeade](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RobMeade)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420/1 "2018-01-07T15:49:39Z")
Quick question…
I noticed the little shield icon ages ago which appears next to someone who is a _moderator_, are there specific circumstances when this may change?
For example, I have both admin and moderator access, the latter being granted initially. Yet the little shield just states _moderator_, are _admins_ more concealed?
I had a quick look at our other admins and they have other “titles” appearing next to them, and I note that when I check @sam here, his doesn’t have the little shield icon either, again, there is a specific title.
Just trying to work out the circumstances under which the shield icon is/is not displayed, and whether certain things override its usage.
Thanks in advance 🙂
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### Author:  [@cpradio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/cpradio)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420/2 "2018-01-07T16:32:21Z")
I believe it is only shown when Is Moderator is checked. Admins either also need that checked (to get the shield) or should use a custom title.
IIRC, the reason behind that was to shield admins from people constantly seeking them out versus using flagging.
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### Author:  [@RobMeade](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RobMeade)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420/3 "2018-01-07T16:45:45Z")
Thanks for the info @cpradio
I have both checked at my end and yes, that would make sense regarding being sought after. The only reason it really came up was that someone wasn’t sure if I was an admin or not, so I was surprised they didn’t realise having been a member of the same community/team (remote) for about a year. 🙂
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### Author:  [@tobiaseigen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tobiaseigen)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420/4 "2018-01-07T18:12:37Z")
If you look on the about page you can see who is admin and who is _merely_ a moderator.
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### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420/5 "2018-01-08T01:45:52Z")
The idea is that admins should be “less visible”. They are just responsible for background technical running of the forum, not day-to-day management.
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### Author:  [@RobMeade](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RobMeade)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2018, 10:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420/6 "2018-01-08T10:58:15Z")
Thanks @tobiaseigen and @sam for your replies.
_“merely”_ - hehe, I wasn’t suggesting this 🙂
Makes sense Sam, I guess I’m just privileged to have been granted both, although I guess I don’t really need _moderator_ being an admin, but without it it wouldn’t display _moderator_ which does come in handy.
Thanks again 🙂
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### Author:  [@JammyDodger](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JammyDodger)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-shield-icon/77420/7 "2024-06-08T12:43:36Z")
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