# Split "See" category permission into "See first post" and "See replies"

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/split-see-category-permission-into-see-first-post-and-see-replies/411472
**Category:** Feature
**Created:** [September 2, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/split-see-category-permission-into-see-first-post-and-see-replies/411472 "2026-09-02T13:38:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

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### Author: ![Jonathan5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jonathan5/32/197134_2.png) [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/split-see-category-permission-into-see-first-post-and-see-replies/411472/1 "2026-09-02T13:38:37Z")

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Continuing the discussion from [Understanding groups and category permissions](https://meta.discourse.org/t/understanding-groups-and-category-permissions/87678):

> [@Understanding groups and category permissions](https://meta.discourse.org/t/understanding-groups-and-category-permissions/87678/1):
>
> There are three levels of permissions you can assign to groups:
> 
> 1. **See** : Users can view the category and its content
> 2. **Reply** : Users can post replies in existing topics
> 3. **Create** : Users can create new topics in the category

In some forums it could encourage lurkers to sign up (and reduce the barrier to subsequent participation) if the first post were visible to all users, but replies only visible to logged-in users. (There might be other variations based on specific groups.)

I also wonder whether it would help reduce AI scraping, but maybe that is futile…

I’m aware of [Gated Topics in Category](https://meta.discourse.org/t/gated-topics-in-category/225454) but have in mind something that doesn’t send the full page to the browser at all. And shows the full first post rather than just a percentage of the screen.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/split-see-category-permission-into-see-first-post-and-see-replies/411472)._