Teaching Study Hall Privacy: Public, Private, and Secret Settings
Your campus platform allows Study Hall owners to control exactly who can see and access their Study Halls. This guide will help you teach your Campus members how to configure Privacy settings for their Study Halls—whether they want them Public, Private, or Secret.
Understanding privacy settings is crucial for creating the right environment for different types of Study Halls. Some discussions need to be wide open, while others require controlled access.
Guide Members to Configure Study Hall Privacy
Help your members navigate to their Study Hall privacy settings with this step-by-step workflow:
Step 1: Access the Study Hall
- Direct members to the Spaces section from the navbar in your campus platform
- Have them open their Desired Study Hall by clicking the Study Hall tab where they want to configure privacy settings
- Alternatively, they can create a new Study Hall by clicking the "New Space" button in the top right corner
Teaching Reference: For detailed instructions on creating a new Study Hall from scratch, refer members to our Study Hall Creation Guide.
Step 2: Open Study Hall Settings
- Guide members to click the three-dot menu button in the top right corner
- Have them select "Space Settings" (which we call "Study Hall Configuration" in your Campus branding)
Step 3: Find Privacy Options
- In the Settings panel, have members click the dropdown arrow next to the Privacy option under the General Settings tab
- They’ll see three privacy options to choose from:
- Public
- Private
- Secret
Teaching Tip for 45+ Audience: Remind members that they can always change privacy settings later. It’s common to start with a more restricted setting and open it up as the Study Hall matures.
Understanding the Three Privacy Levels
Public Study Halls
What it means: When members select the Public option, anyone can view posts in the Study Hall without joining. However, only Study Hall members can create posts and interact.
Best used for:
- General discussion topics
- Campus-wide announcements
- Open learning communities
- Resource sharing spaces
- Welcome and orientation Study Halls
Member experience:
- Non-members can browse and read all content
- Visitors can see what valuable discussions are happening
- Members can post, comment, and fully participate
- Great for discovery and attracting new members
Teaching Context: Public Study Halls serve your Campus Map Phase 2 (Community Building) by lowering barriers to entry. New members can "window shop" before committing to join.
Private Study Halls
What it means: Anyone can view the basic info of the Study Hall (title, description, member count), but only members who have been approved and joined can view content. Only Admin and approved members can create and interact with posts.
Best used for:
- Paid membership areas
- Advanced learning cohorts
- Accountability groups
- Mastermind circles
- Members-only resource libraries
Lock Screen Options:
When you set a Study Hall to Private, your campus platform gives you three ways to display the "locked" experience to non-members:
Option 1: Default Lock Screen
Select this if you want to use your campus platform’s standard Lock Screen. This provides a clean, simple message that the Study Hall requires membership.
Teaching Tip: The default option is perfect when you’re just getting started. Members can always customize later.
Option 2: Redirect to a URL
This option is powerful for sales and marketing. Instead of showing a lock screen, you can automatically redirect visitors to a specific URL—typically a sales page, application form, or information page about joining.
Implementation Example: If you’re running a paid mastermind Study Hall, redirect non-members to your Stripe checkout page or application form.
Option 3: Custom Lock Screen
Select this option to create a fully customized Lock Screen experience. Guide members to open the Lock Screen tab in Study Hall Settings to access all customization options.
Customizing Private Study Hall Lock Screens
When members choose the Custom Lock Screen option, they can fully control how non-members experience their locked Study Hall. Here’s how to guide them through the customization process:
Access Customization:
- Navigate to the desired Study Hall
- Click Space Settings (Study Hall Configuration)
- Select the Lock Screen tab from the top navigation
Page Blocks: In the left sidebar under "Page Blocks," members can customize three main sections:
- Banner
- Description
- Call to Action
Block Controls:
- Edit: Click the pencil icon to edit any block’s content
- Disable: Click the eye icon to hide blocks they don’t want to show
- Move: Click the up-down arrows to reorder blocks
Banner Customization
The Banner is the header area that visitors see first. It sets the tone and communicates the value of joining. Guide members through these options:
Content Tab:
a) Heading: The main title visitors see (Example: "Join the Marketing Mastery Study Hall")
b) Description: A short message explaining what the Study Hall offers and why members should join (Example: "Connect with fellow marketers, share strategies, and grow your business together")
c) Button Label: Text on the call-to-action button (Example: "Apply to Join" or "Unlock Access")
d) Button Link: URL where the button directs visitors (your application page, sales page, or membership form)
e) Open in New Tab: Check this to open the button link in a new browser tab, keeping your Campus open in the background
Design Tab:
a) Background Image: Upload a visually appealing image that represents your Study Hall’s purpose. Click "Upload Image" to select from your media library or upload a new file.
b) Overlay Color: Add a semi-transparent color overlay on top of your background image to improve text readability.
c) Heading Color: Change the text color of your main heading to ensure it stands out and is easy to read.
d) Text Color: Adjust the color of your description text.
e) Button Label: Change the text color on your call-to-action button.
f) Button Background: Set the background color for your CTA button to make it pop.
Teaching Tip for 45+ Audience: Less is more with design. Choose 2-3 complementary colors and stick with them. High contrast (dark text on light backgrounds or vice versa) improves readability.
Description Section
The Description area allows members to add detailed content below the banner using the Block Editor (Gutenberg). This is where they can:
- Explain Study Hall benefits in detail
- List what members will learn or gain
- Share testimonials from current members
- Add images, videos, or formatted text
- Include FAQs about joining
Shortcut for Non-Designers: Guide members to use the Patterns tab at the top of the Block Editor. Patterns provide pre-designed layouts they can simply customize with their own content—no design skills needed.
Call to Action Section
The Call to Action creates a secondary prompt at the bottom of the lock screen, giving visitors another opportunity to join.
The CTA section offers identical settings to the Banner:
- Content Tab: Heading, description, button label, button link, new tab option
- Design Tab: Background image, overlay color, text colors, button styling
Implementation Strategy: Use the Banner CTA as the main action ("Apply to Join") and the bottom CTA as a softer alternative ("Learn More About Membership").
Save Your Work: Once customization is complete, have members click the "Save Changes & Close" button to preserve all changes.
Secret Study Halls
What it means: The Study Hall is completely locked and hidden from everyone. Only specifically invited members can even see that the Study Hall exists, let alone view and interact with content.
Best used for:
- Executive coaching groups
- High-level masterminds
- Beta testing groups
- Crisis management spaces
- Sensitive or confidential discussions
- VIP member experiences
Member experience:
- Study Hall doesn’t appear in public Study Hall lists
- Non-invited members see no indication it exists
- Only invited members receive access
- Perfect for exclusive, high-touch experiences
Teaching Context: Secret Study Halls create your Campus’s premium tier. They’re essential for Phase 4 (Transformation Engine) when you’re delivering high-value, personalized experiences.
Don’t Forget to Save
After members select their desired privacy option, remind them to click the "Save Changes" button to apply the new privacy settings to their Study Hall.
Common Mistake: Members often forget this final step and wonder why their privacy settings didn’t change. Make this a key point in your training.
Privacy Settings and Campus Transformation
Different privacy levels serve different purposes in your Campus transformation journey:
Public Study Halls:
- Phase 2 (Community Building): Welcome new members, create initial connections
- Lower barrier to entry increases participation
- Great for building social proof
Private Study Halls:
- Phase 3 (Engagement Ecosystem): Create value-add experiences that keep members returning
- Membership requirement increases perceived value
- Perfect for paid tiers and advanced content
Secret Study Halls:
- Phase 4 (Transformation Engine): Deliver high-touch, transformational experiences
- Exclusivity increases commitment and engagement
- Ideal for your most dedicated and highest-paying members
Teaching Tips for Your 45+ Members
When training Campus members on privacy settings:
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Start with the "Why": Before showing buttons to click, explain why privacy settings matter and how they’ll use them.
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Use Real Examples: Share specific scenarios: "If you’re creating a book club Study Hall, you might want Public so people can preview discussions. If you’re running a paid coaching program, Private with a custom lock screen is better."
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Emphasize Flexibility: Remind members they’re not locked into their first choice. Settings can change as their Study Hall evolves.
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Walk Through Lock Screen Customization: The custom lock screen options can feel overwhelming. Consider creating a template or example they can copy.
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Create a Privacy Decision Framework:
- Is this free or paid? (Paid = Private or Secret)
- Do I want discovery or exclusivity? (Discovery = Public, Exclusivity = Private/Secret)
- Is this content sensitive? (Sensitive = Secret)
Need Help? If you have questions about implementing Study Hall privacy settings in your Personally Branded Campus, contact our support team.