Types of Chat Rooms

HeyPeers supports two types of chat rooms that organizations can create and manage: Public Chat Rooms and Private Chat Rooms. Each type serves a different purpose and offers different levels of visibility and access. This article explains the differences so your organization can choose the right option for each use case.

Public chat rooms are open, discoverable spaces where any HeyPeers member can join and participate.

Public chat rooms offer several advantages for organizations that want to create open, accessible spaces for peer connection.

• Discoverable by all HeyPeers members
  Public rooms appear on the Discover Chat Rooms page, making them easy for members to find based on interest or topic.
• Members can join without an invitation
  This reduces administrative work and removes barriers to participation.
• Lower ongoing maintenance
  Because members self‑join, moderators do not need to manage invitations or approve access.
• Supports community growth
  Public rooms help organizations reach new members who may not yet be connected to their programs.
• Ideal for ongoing, topic‑based support
  Even specific topics (e.g., “Living with OCD,” “Caregiver Support”) benefit from being public because they remain visible to anyone seeking that type of peer connection.
• Encourages organic engagement
  Members can join, return, and participate at their own pace, creating a steady flow of peer‑to‑peer interaction.

Private chat rooms are closed spaces intended for a specific group of members.

Private chat rooms offer organizations a controlled, invitation‑only space for focused peer connection. These rooms are not visible to the general HeyPeers community and are ideal when membership needs to be limited.

• Not visible on the Discover Chat Rooms page
  Only invited members can see or access the room, ensuring a contained environment.
• Invitation‑only access
  Moderators decide who joins, which helps maintain appropriate group composition.
• More controlled participation
  Because membership is curated, conversations tend to stay on‑topic and aligned with the group’s purpose.
• Ideal for program‑specific or time‑limited groups
  Private rooms work well for follow‑up groups or members participating in a particular organizational program.
• Supports privacy and boundaries
  Useful when the topic or group requires a smaller, more predictable audience.