🔒 Important Note on Secured Access ("Visible only to"): In the Edlio Mobile App, "Secured Access" and audience permissions ("Visible only to" specific Roles or Lists) strictly require users to log in to the app with an authenticated account. If your school uses an open app (where users skip login), the app displays public information only. Features like audience-restricted news categories/posts, "Visible to" permissions, and Conversations cannot function on open, non-authenticated apps.

The App Newsfeed is a powerful communication tool within your Edlio Mobile App that allows you to share important announcements, updates, and information with your community. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to create, manage, and optimize your App Newsfeed.

What is the App Newsfeed?

Core newsfeed capabilities

The App Newsfeed serves as the central information stream in your mobile app. It displays chronological posts that can include text, images, videos, and links. This feature enables you to keep your community informed about important events, achievements, announcements, and time-sensitive alerts.

Key points about the App Newsfeed:

Access to posts can be controlled based on user roles (when using Secured Access app login)
High-priority posts can be pinned to remain at the top of the feed
Content can be scheduled for future publication or automated expiration
Posts can be categorized for intuitive community filtering
Analytics track view counts for each post

Please Note: The App Newsfeed feature area is where you manage existing newsfeed items and categories. To compose a new message or news item, click the Mass Communication (or Create News if not subscribed to Mass Communication) tile from your main dashboard.

Accessing App Newsfeed management

Navigating in your admin panel

From your EdlioApp admin panel, navigate to Features from the main menu.
Select App Newsfeed from the features grid.

Configuring App News settings

Creating and managing categories

Organizing news topics

Categories help organize your news posts and allow mobile app users to filter the newsfeed based on their specific interests (e.g., Athletics, Academics, Fine Arts, District Announcements).

To manage categories:

From the App Newsfeed management page, click the Categories button.
To add a new category, click New, enter a name, choose an identifying color, configure access permissions if needed, and click Save.
To modify or remove an existing category, click the edit (pencil) icon or the delete (trash) icon.

Managing existing posts

Pinning and unpinning news items

Pinning allows administrators to keep crucial, time-sensitive announcements anchored at the very top of the mobile app newsfeed, regardless of when newer chronological posts are published.

To pin an item: In the post list, locate the announcement and toggle the Pin icon/option on. Pinned items display prominently at the top of the feed with a pin indicator.
To unpin an item: Click the Pin icon again to toggle it off. The post immediately returns to its normal chronological position based on its publish date.
Best practice: Keep only 1–3 active pinned items at any time so the top of the mobile screen remains fresh and dynamic.

Editing posts: Understanding "Save & Reset" vs. "Apply"

When you edit an existing published post (by clicking the pencil icon), the editor offers two distinct save actions with very different notification behaviors:

Save & Reset (Resends Notification): Saves your content changes and triggers a brand-new push notification to all subscribed users. Use Save & Reset when correcting critical, time-sensitive errors—such as updated event times, rescheduled games, school closure notices, or emergency instructions—where families must be proactively alerted to the change.
Apply (Silent Save): Saves your content changes silently without sending another push notification. Use Apply for routine updates such as fixing typographical errors, clarifying wording, formatting adjustments, or adding supplementary photos or links that do not warrant buzzing users' phones again.

Deleting and archiving posts

To remove a post from the active newsfeed:

Locate the post in your management list and click the delete (trash) icon.
Confirm the deletion when prompted in the confirmation dialog.
The post is immediately removed from all mobile devices upon their next feed refresh.

Feed visibility and alert options

To configure general visibility rules for your App Newsfeed:

From the App Newsfeed management page, click the App News Settings button.
Adjust the following settings:
- Limit Visibility (days): Control how many days posts remain visible in the mobile feed before automatically archiving.
- Show contacts without personal categories in alert settings: Toggle alert preferences for general community recipients.
Click Save to apply your changes.

Best practices for the App Newsfeed

Mobile communication tips

Keep titles concise: Write clear, descriptive headlines that convey the essence of the update on a small phone screen.
Use featured photos: Eye-catching, horizontal images dramatically increase click-through rates on mobile newsfeeds.
Schedule content: Plan announcements in advance using future publish dates to maintain a consistent communication cadence.
Edlio Website (CMS) integration: If you are an Edlio Website (CMS) customer, your homepage website news will automatically be posted to your app newsfeed—no copy and paste, no extra clicks. If you have additional CMS news categories you'd like to post to your app, open a ticket with us to set up the automation.
Unpin promptly: When an event has passed or an urgent situation is resolved, unpin the post immediately so the feed stays current.

App Newsfeed Overview