Safety Settings for Members

Click here for safety settings for Network Creators.

Network Creators have complete control over the privacy settings, content and members of their Ning Networks. If there’s anything that doesn’t fit within a Ning Network’s privacy and safety goals, please let the Network Creator know right away. You can report a problem to the Network Creator of a Ning Network by clicking on “Report an Issue” at the bottom of every page. The sooner you let them know, the better! They have the tools available to resolve the issue immediately. If you’re unable to resolve the issue with the Network Creator, please contact us and/or the authorities, as necessary.

Additionally, as a member of a Ning Network, there are many options available to help you manage your privacy settings and ensure that you’re comfortable with who can view your content. With the tools built in to a Ning Network you can:

Choose the privacy settings for your profile information and profile page

You have full control over how you display your information on Ning and all of the Ning Networks you join. In addition to any profile you create on a Ning Network, you’ll also have a Ning profile that’s only viewable by you. Your Ning profile allows you to add a set of basic details and a photo to your Ning account and then pre-populates your profile when you join a new Ning Network. You can update your Ning profile at any time by signing in to Ning.com, or you can edit your details and profile photo for a specific Ning Network at the time you join.

When you join a Ning Network, you create a profile specific to that Ning Network and you can choose what information about yourself is publicly displayed. You can opt to not display your birthday, age, gender and location on your profile page on every Ning Network that you’re a member of. In addition, you can change the privacy level of your profile page and list of friends at any time. Your profile page and list of friends can be set to be visible to just your friends on that Ning Network, to only members on that Ning Network, or to everyone. If you’ve changed the privacy of your profile page, visitors who don’t have access to your profile page will only be able to view your name, photo, profile page title and any basic information you’ve decided to keep public.

To change the privacy setting of your profile page and list of friends on a Ning Network, click the “Settings” link in the upper right corner of the page and then the “Privacy” link in the left column. Below “My profile page and friends can be viewed by…” choose the option you feel comfortable with.

To opt to not display your gender, birthday or age on a Ning Network, click the “Settings” link in the upper right corner of the page. On this page, you can select “Don’t display my birthday or age” from the dropdown menu below your birthday and check the “Don’t Display” box next to your gender.

Limit who can view your events

You can change your privacy settings so that just you or your friends can view your events. To do this, click the “Settings” link in the upper right corner of the page and then the “Privacy” link in the left column. Below “My events can be viewed by…” choose the option you feel comfortable with. By default, your events may be accessed by anyone who browses the Ning Network if both the Ning Network and your profile page are public.

Limit who can view your photos, videos and blog

You can change your privacy settings so that only you or your friends can view the photos, videos and blog posts you upload to a Ning Network. To do this, click the “Settings” link in the upper right corner of the page and then the “Privacy” link in the left column. Below “My blog, photos and videos can be viewed by…” choose the option you feel comfortable with. By default, your blog, photos and videos may be accessed by anyone who browses the Ning Network if both the Ning Network and your profile page are public.

You can also decide who is able to view your photos, videos and blog posts on a Ning Network when you add the specific photo(s), video(s) or blog post. At the time of upload, you can choose whether the content is viewable to just you, just your friends or to anyone. If you want to change the privacy setting on a specific photo, video or blog post after it has been uploaded, go to the detail page for that photo, video or blog post.

  • For photos, click the “Edit Photo” link below the photo.
  • For videos, click the “Edit Video” link below the video.
  • For blog posts, click the “Edit Post” link in the “Admin Options” box.

Select the new privacy settings you would like and click “Save Changes.” By default, your photos, videos and blog may be accessed by anyone who browses the Ning Network if both the Ning Network and your profile page are public.

Restrict comments on your photos, videos and blog

You can decide who can comment on your photos, videos and blog. To change this setting, click the “Settings” link in the right column of the page and then the “Privacy” link in the left column. Below “Comments on my blog, photos and videos can be added by…” you can choose to allow just you or just your friends to comment on your photos, videos and blog. Additionally, you have full control over the comments that other people post on your photos, videos, and blog posts. To delete any comment on your content, click the “x” that appears to the right of the comment. By default, any member of the Ning Network can comment on the content you’ve uploaded to the Ning Network.

Approve comments on your blog before they’re published

You can choose to approve comments to your blog before they’re published. This means that when someone comments on a blog post you’ve written, it will not appear right away. You can review the comment and choose to approve or delete it – before anyone else sees it. To do this, click on the “Settings” link and then the “Privacy” link in the left column. Below “When someone adds a comment on my blog…” select “Wait for my approval.” By default, when someone comments on your blog, it’s published immediately.

Approve comments on your profile page before they’re published

You can choose to approve comments to your profile page before they’re published. This means that when someone comments on your profile page, it will not appear right away. You can review the comment and choose to approve or delete it – before anyone else sees it. To do this, click on the “Settings” link in the right column of the page and then the “Privacy” link in the left column. Below “When someone adds a comment on my profile…” in the Moderation section, select “Wait for my approval.” By default, when someone comments on your profile page, it’s published immediately.

Approve Virtual Gifts before they appear

You can choose to approve virtual gifts before they’re accepted and published on your profile page. This means that when someone gives you a gift, it will not appear right away. You can review the gift and choose to approve or delete it – before anyone else sees it. To do this, click on the “Settings” link in the right column of the page and then the “Privacy” link. Below “When someone sends me a gift…” select “Wait for my approval.” Additionally, you can make a public gift private or delete a gift at any time. To do so, click on the gift and then select “Make Private” or “Delete” in the Admin Options section. By default, when someone sends you a gift, it’s accepted and published immediately.

Control which actions appear in Latest Activity

The Latest Activity stream never displays messages you send, pages or profiles you view, invitations you decline or people you de-friend or decline. Beyond that, you can control which of your activities appear in a Ning Network’s Latest Activity stream. To do this, click on the “Settings” link in the right column of the page and then the “Privacy” link. Below “Publish an item in Latest Activity when I…” choose which actions you’re comfortable with appearing in the Latest Activity stream on the main page of the Ning Network. You can also delete any of your items from Latest Activity stream immediately on your profile page or on a Ning Network’s main page by hovering your mouse over the item you’d like to remove and clicking the “X” that appears next to it. By default, most of your actions on a Ning Network will appear as a Latest Activity item. This includes new content and comments you add, friendships you confirm, updates to your profile, and when you RSVP to events.

Control who can send you messages

When you join a Ning Network, you can only send and receive messages with specific kinds of people. You can exchange messages with the Network Creator and any Network Administrators, the group creator and administrators of any groups you choose to join, and your friends on the Ning Network. To control who can send you messages, be mindful of who you add or accept as a friend on a Ning Network and be aware that anyone you make a friendship with on that social network will be able to contact you across any Ning Network that you both belong to. If you don’t know someone who has requested to be your friend, your best bet is to ignore their friend request.

Block messages from someone

If you no longer want to receive messages from someone, you can block them from contacting you via private message in a few simple steps. Go to your inbox and locate a message from the person you want to block, open the message and click the “Block messages” link. You can also block messages via a member’s profile page. This way, you can block messages from someone to prevent them from ever sending you a message. Below their profile photo, click the “Block Messages” link.

  • Questions?

    If you have any additional questions or issues, our Help Center is always a good source of information.