Earlier this year Groups.io allowed hashtags and also automatically attaches them to some features, e.g. Calendar and Invite.
'Subject Line Bloat' also began earlier this year.
I don't want to use them either of them, but there are no controls to turn them OFF, yet.
WORKAROUND:
Admin: Settings: Message Policies:
Set to:
"Posts by subscribers can only by tagged with existing hashtags, new hashtags will be removed."
Click on "Update Group" (at bottom of page)
To prevent Moderators from creating (and deleting) hashtags:
Admin: Members:
Use the "Members, Moderators, Pending Approval, Bouncing, Banned" dropdown menu to select "Moderators"
Click on a Moderator's row (not the check box)
Scroll down to "Moderator Permissions" and make sure "Create/Delete Hashtags" is unchecked
Click on "Save" (at bottom of page)
Repeat for each Moderator
Even with that setting some Subject lines will be automatically hashtagged, e.g.:
#cal-reminder, #cal-cancelled, or #cal-invite, ETC
WORKAROUND:
Hashtags (not Admin)
Then "Edit" every (existing) hashtag to: "Moderated"
Click on "Update Hashtag" (at bottom of page)
Repeat for each Hashtag (current and future)
Now you will have to Moderate every Message and Notice that has a hashtag,
but it allows removal of any existing Hashtag AND correction of 'Subject Line Bloat', e.g.
from:
[CCSS] Upcoming Event: Cape Cod Scottish Session - Tue, 2019-11-05 7:00pm-9:00pm #cal-reminder
to:
[CCSS] Cape Cod Scottish Session - Tue, 2019-11-05 7:00pm
NOTE: Any Moderator (with "Approve Pending Messages" permissions) can approve any message,
so if they don't have "Create/Delete Hashtags" permission, you may also want to:
WORKAROUND:
Admin: Members:
Use the "Members, Moderators, Pending Approval, Bouncing, Banned" dropdown menu to select "Moderators"
Click on a Moderator's row (not the check box)
Scroll down to "Notifications" and make sure "Email when there are messages needing approval." is unchecked
Click on "Save" (at bottom of page)
Repeat for each Moderator
It is a PITA and better controls could fix that, perhaps after the 'great YahooGroups migration'...
Michael Pavan