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This article will cover Google Chat's new restriction setting for students within Google Workspace for Education. Enabling this restriction prevents students from initiating conversations outside of staff-supervised environments, promoting safer communication within Google Workspace for Education. For instance, it can be used to ensure that students only communicate with teachers or in monitored spaces, reducing the risk of unsupervised or inappropriate conversations.
What You'll Learn
In this article we’ll cover:
Recommendation for the feature
Requirements and Configuration
How it works
Resources
Recommendation
By default, the Restrict creating messages, group messages, and spaces option is OFF or Disabled. We recommend enabling the Restrict creating messages, group messages, and spaces setting to enhance student safety while maintaining supervised communication with staff.
- K-12 Recommendation: Turn on the restriction for all students to ensure monitored communication.
- Higher Education Recommendation: Turn on the restriction specifically for students under 18.
Requirements and Configuration
Navigation Path:
Apps > Google Workspace > Google Chat > Chat and Space Restrictions
- Go to the Chat and space restrictions page.
- Choose the specific OUs (e.g., Students) where these restrictions should apply. You can also apply this restriction to specific groups within the organization.
- Check the checkbox for the Restrict creating messages, group messages, and spaces option.
- After making the selections, click Save to apply the changes to the chosen OUs or groups.
How it Works
How Restrictions Affect Students
Once enabled, students in the selected OUs will no longer be able to create new direct messages, group messages, or spaces. However, they will still be able to participate in existing conversations and spaces they are part of.
How Restrictions Affect Staff
Staff members will continue to have full access to create and manage messages and spaces, ensuring communication remains seamless among educators.
Links to Support Articles or Additional References
Chat safer with new settings for students in Google Chat
Set up Chat restrictions for Education accounts
| Document Version | Date | Description of Change |
| 1.0 | 9/9/2024 | Original publish |