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In searching around, it seems like it's possible for an Admin to (1) change the student role so that no student-users can do student-to-student messaging or (2) create a different type of student role who cannot message other students, but are there any work arounds for a single student to block messages from another single student?
This is a surprising omission; basic moderation tools include the ability to block users who are sending unwanted messages. While actual harassment is an ethics violation that can be handled at a higher level, minor issues (such as repeatedly messaging the wrong user because they have a confusingly similar name) have no current resolution in Canvas.
Just running into this issue. Looks like people have been asking for some sort of inbox block feature (at any level) for years. I get that there are technical reasons why this is difficult, but this should be a priority. In my case a student is claiming harassment and we can't turn off inbox privileges for individual users or block users in inbox. I just want to suspend this feature until the investigation is made. Is our only choice to stop this behavior to drop the student sending unwanted messages?
Please tell me there is some workaround. I tried creating a separate section in the course for just one student, but that doesn't stop it.
FYI: The only solution was, like OP said, to create a new role based on Student but turn off Conversations in role permissions. The student can still message the instructor but they can't message any other students in the course. The admin would have to create the Role, then change the Student who is sending inappropriate messages to that Role in the course. Here's a screen shot of what that would look like with a new role "Probation"
Any updates on this issue, Instructure folks? We don't want to shut down all messaging capabilities for the role, but we need to have a capability that stops one individual from continuing to get unwanted messages from another individual. This is pretty basic content moderation and a key step in investigating potential harassment/bullying. What's the holdup?
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