# Private categories padlock icon

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-categories-padlock-icon/102733>\
**Category:** UX\
**Created:** [November 25, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-categories-padlock-icon/102733 "2018-11-25T22:21:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![ChameleonScales](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/chameleonscales/32/204777_2.png) [@ChameleonScales](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ChameleonScales)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-categories-padlock-icon/102733/1 "2018-11-25T22:21:58Z")

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Rebooting this closed topic:

> [@Alternatives to lock icon for categories](https://meta.discourse.org/t/alternatives-to-lock-icon-for-categories/24815):
>
> Quite a bit later, but I still find the lock quite startling and confusing, it just feels like its a category that can not be posted into cause it was shut down. I really wish we could have a different icon there, even if its not the group icon.

I recently had a message from a TL3 user who told me he never clicked on the private categories because he thought the padlock meant he didn’t have access there. I was also confused the first time I saw that.

I really liked this icon, as there is just no way to misunderstand it:  
 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/8/7/877f1969e230838cde5aae34cecaada6ca17bc94.png)

> [@On another topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/124815/11):
>
> **Lock is _universally_ understood as permissions required** ,

I beg to diffeeeeeer 🎶 🎵

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-categories-padlock-icon/102733)._