# Private post feature
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118
**Category:** Feature
**Created:** [October 5, 2023, 6:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118 "2023-10-05T06:58:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@user232](https://meta.discourse.org/u/user232)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2023, 6:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118/1 "2023-10-05T06:58:00Z")
I want users to choose if they want their posts hidden/private or public/unprivate.
Hidden does so only the users and staff can see the posts, which also include., No Google Search results from the hidden Post. The users, can choose anytime, also when the Post has been made.
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### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2023, 7:54am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118/2 "2023-10-05T07:54:55Z")
> [@user232](#):
>
> No Google Search results from the hidden Post.
If I understand you correctly, this is already possible (and has been for almost the life of Discourse).
That is achieved simply by placing the parent Topic (a Post is part of a Topic) in a Category that is at least restricted by `trust_level_0` group.
I do this on one of my sites. It masks these Posts from Google whilst encouraging sign-up as a bonus.
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### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2023, 8:11am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118/3 "2023-10-05T08:11:04Z")
> [@user232](#):
>
> Hidden does so only the users and staff can see the posts
In this case the user could send a personal message to the staff group. Otherwise they post in a public category.
But the user has to ask a moderator to make a public topic a personal message or to publish a message
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### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2023, 8:15am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118/4 "2023-10-05T08:15:24Z")
> [@user232](#):
>
> so only the users and staff can see the posts,
Can we clarify something?
Each user’s Post can only be seen by staff and that user, or _all_ registered users can see the Posts (including staff)?
You were a bit ambiguous I feel. It depends on your definition of “users”.
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### Author:  [@Canapin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Canapin)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2023, 8:25am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118/5 "2023-10-05T08:25:38Z")
> [@user232](#):
>
> Hidden does so only the users and staff can see the posts
The closest thing that exists is this unofficial plugin:
> [@Discourse Private Replies](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-private-replies/146712):
>
> Github: [GitHub - communiteq/discourse-private-replies](https://github.com/communiteq/discourse-private-replies) This plugin hides topic replies for everyone but the topic starter and the post author. Use cases This can be used for for instance homework assignments where the teacher opens a topic and posts an assignment, and all students make a post with their answers. When everyone has submitted their work, the teacher can open up the answers so the students will be able to discuss them. A second use case can be an auction where something is offered…
But it doesn’t do _exactly_ what you want, as the feature is enabled per-topic ( **all** posts in the topic will be hidden).
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### Author:  [@user232](https://meta.discourse.org/u/user232)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2023, 8:44am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118/6 "2023-10-05T08:44:00Z")
Each user’s Post can only be seen by staff and that user
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### Author:  [@user232](https://meta.discourse.org/u/user232)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2023, 8:45am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-post-feature/281118/7 "2023-10-05T08:45:23Z")
it would be better if users could pick self