Channels

Channels are subgroups within a Premium Raft where members can chat, plan events, and form smaller communities within a larger one. This is one of the primary ways that members interact on Raftr. Channels can have their own Leaders and do not have a limit on how many members they can have. Similar to other messaging methods on Raftr, you can send emojis, GIFs, images, videos, and files to fellow Channel members.

You can find Channels to join on your Raft by going to the Channels tab. Once you are a member, you will see all of the Channels you have joined on the Home page in the Chat section. 

How to Create Custom Channels

Only Raft Leaders and Co-leaders can create additional Channels, and only on Premium Rafts. Once a Raft has been upgraded, simply go to the Raft, click the Channels section, and tap the add new  (+) sign. You can also use the +Create button and select Channels to add a new Channel.

From there, give the Channel a name, assign a photo, enter a description (optional), and decide if you want the Channel to be public, private, or secret; then tap Create. When a Channel is public, that means Raft members can see the content of the Channel. A private Channel only has its name and description visible to Raft members. A secret Channel is by invite only and does not appear in the Channels list unless you are already a member. In all cases, Channel content cannot be viewed by non-members of the Raft that houses it.

Accessing Your Messages

To view your Channel messages, visit the Chat section on the Home page for a list of all of your new messages. You can filter your list of messages by Chat Channel only by selecting that option in the Filter drop-down in the Chat section. You can also get to your Channels by going to the Channels tab on the Raft that is associated with that Channel. From there, you will see a list of all public and private Channels on that Raft. Choose the one you want to view or join a new one.

Channel Message Options

When you create a message in a Channel, you have many options for the kind of content to include in your message. You can add photos (or take a new photo), videos, emojis, GIFs, or files to your message. You can also create an Event or a Quick Poll in a Channel (only Channel members will see it) and it will show up in the Channel's Events feed. To access these content types, tap the create (+) icon to the left of the content entry box.

Raft Channel Management

Managing a Channel is very similar to managing a Raft. Each Channel can have one Leader and unlimited Co-leaders (there are no Curators on Channels) who manage the settings and members of the Channel. Channel admin settings can be accessed from the gear icon next to the Channel header. 

From the Channel admin settings, you can change the icon, description, and privacy level of the Channel, as well as access your Member Management settings. To promote or demote a member, click or tap on Member Management, then select the "More menu" (...) icon next to the name of the person you want to promote or demote. You can also use that menu to ban (remove permanently), remove (unjoin), or restrict (block from creating new content) Channel members. 

Other platform safety tools are also available for Channels. As a Channel Admin, you can freeze the Channel to restrict all members from viewing or creating content. You can also manage your banned and restricted members.

Raft Channel Settings

As a Raft Admin, you can change many Channel settings and create new Channels by clicking the Update Settings link on the main Channel tab in the Raft. Inside a Channel, all members can see and modify some details of the Channel by clicking the Information (i) icon at the top-right of the Channel. On the Information view, you can change your notification options for that Channel, view photos and videos that have been posted in chats in the Channel, and view the Channel's Topic. You can also leave the Channel from this screen.