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Conversations vs. My Categories vs. Groups

🔄 Target Lists are now Groups. As of June 2026, Target Lists have been renamed to Groups in the Edlio app. This is a rename with a redesigned interface, not a new system — all your data is preserved (members, filter rules, restrictions, and communication history remain intact). You do not need to recreate or migrate anything.

Conversations VS. My Categories VS. Groups

These three features all deal with "who sees what," so they're easy to mix up. Here's the difference at a glance.

ℹ️ "Groups" is the new name for Target Lists. If an older guide mentions Target Lists, it means Groups.

What it is

Who controls it

Where it's used

Conversations

Two-way messaging threads between staff and parents/students

Staff start conversations; participants reply

The Messaging/Conversations area of the app

My Categories

Subscription topics that app users join or leave themselves

Each app user manages their own subscriptions

App push notifications and newsfeed content

Groups

Administrator-created audiences built from people records, filter rules, and additional contacts

Admins (with optional Restricted Access controlling who can use each group)

Mass Communication (App, Email, Text, Voice), content visibility, classrooms, app news targeting

Conversations

Conversations are for two-way, ongoing dialogue — for example, a teacher messaging the families of one classroom. A conversation can be created using a classroom-synced group, so the participant list stays current as the classroom roster changes. See: Create Conversation Using Classrooms Group.

My Categories

Categories are subscription-based: users opt in or out themselves within the app. They're ideal for optional-interest content (e.g., "Athletics updates"). Because users control their own membership, you can't guarantee a specific person receives a category-based message.

Groups

Groups are administrator-defined: you decide exactly who's in them, using static members, dynamic filter rules, and additional contacts. Users cannot add or remove themselves. Groups work across every channel — app, email, text, and voice — and also control content visibility across features (Directory, Info Pages, Calendar, Quick Links, Apps, Forms, Documents, Pictures).

Which should I use?

  • Need guaranteed delivery to specific people? Use a Group.

  • Want users to choose what they follow? Use a Category.

  • Need a back-and-forth discussion? Use a Conversation.

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