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Chat & Social Features

Stay connected with your gauntlet participants through in-app chat. Share encouragement, celebrate milestones, and keep the competitive spirit alive.

Accessing Chat​

  1. Open any gauntlet you've joined
  2. Tap the Chat tab at the bottom
  3. Start messaging!

Chat Tab [Screenshot: Gauntlet screen with Chat tab highlighted]

Sending Messages​

Text Messages​

Type your message in the input field and tap Send. Messages appear instantly for all participants.

Sharing Images​

  1. Tap the camera icon next to the message input
  2. Choose to take a photo or select from gallery
  3. Add an optional caption
  4. Tap Send

Image Sharing [Screenshot: Chat with shared image and caption]

Sending GIFs​

  1. Tap the GIF icon next to the message input
  2. Search for a GIF or browse trending
  3. Tap to select and send

GIF Picker [Screenshot: GIF search and selection interface]

Message Interactions​

Emoji Reactions​

React to any message with emojis:

  1. Long-press on a message
  2. Select from the reaction picker: 👍 ❤️ 😂 🔥 💪 🎉
  3. Your reaction appears below the message
  4. Tap an existing reaction to add yours or remove it

Reactions show a count and highlight if you've reacted.

Emoji Reactions [Screenshot: Message with multiple emoji reactions]

Reply Threading​

Reply directly to a specific message:

  1. Long-press on the message you want to reply to
  2. Tap Reply
  3. Type your response
  4. The reply links to the original message

Reply Thread [Screenshot: Threaded reply showing original message]

@Mentions​

Tag specific participants to get their attention:

  1. Type @ in your message
  2. Select a participant from the list
  3. They'll receive a notification

Mentions [Screenshot: @mention autocomplete dropdown]

Chat Notifications​

Enabling Notifications​

  1. Go to Settings > Notifications
  2. Enable Chat Messages
  3. Optionally enable @Mentions Only to reduce noise

Notification Types​

  • New messages - All messages in your gauntlets
  • @Mentions - When someone tags you
  • Reactions - When someone reacts to your message

When you share a URL in chat, Goal Gauntlet automatically generates a preview card showing the page title, description, and thumbnail image. Tap the preview to open the link in your browser.

System & Milestone Messages​

The chat shows automatic notifications for key gauntlet events:

  • Member joined - When a new participant joins the gauntlet
  • Rank changes - When someone moves up or down in the leaderboard
  • Achievements - When milestones are hit (e.g., goal reached, personal best)

These appear as centered system messages with an icon indicator.

Chat Channels​

For gauntlets with team mode, you'll see two chat channels:

  • All - Messages visible to all gauntlet participants
  • Team - Messages visible only to your team members

Switch between channels using the toggle at the top of the chat screen.

Sharing Your Progress​

Share to Social Media​

Share your achievements outside the app:

  1. Open your gauntlet or profile
  2. Tap Share
  3. Choose: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or copy link
  4. Customize your message

Shareable Content​

  • Challenge join announcements
  • Milestone achievements
  • Final results and rankings
  • Fundraising progress updates

Share Cards​

Auto-generated graphics include:

  • Your stats and ranking
  • Challenge branding
  • Goal Gauntlet logo

Inviting Others​

Invite Methods​

  • Copy code - Share the 6-character code
  • Copy link - Full URL they can tap
  • Share via... - Direct to messaging apps
  • QR code - Scan to join

Profile & Social​

Your Profile​

Your profile shows:

  • Display name and photo
  • Total gauntlets completed
  • Lifetime stats (steps, distance, calories)
  • Active challenges

Viewing Others​

Tap any participant to see:

  • Their profile
  • Challenge history (public only)
  • Current gauntlet stats

Privacy​

Control what others see in Settings → Privacy:

  • Public profile - Anyone can view
  • Participants only - Only fellow gauntlet members
  • Private - Minimal info shown

Notifications​

Push Notifications​

Get notified about:

  • Chat messages and @mentions
  • Leaderboard changes
  • Challenge starting/ending
  • Milestone achievements
  • Payout received

Notification Settings​

Settings → Notifications:

CategoryOptions
ChatAll / Mentions / Off
LeaderboardOn / Off
Challenge updatesOn / Off
Daily remindersOn / Off

Chat Guidelines​

Be Supportive​

  • Celebrate others' achievements
  • Share tips and motivation
  • Keep competition friendly

Stay Relevant​

  • Keep chat focused on the gauntlet
  • Share progress updates
  • Discuss strategies and goals

Not Allowed​

  • Harassment or bullying
  • Spam or excessive self-promotion
  • Inappropriate content
  • Cheating accusations (report to support instead)

Respect Privacy​

  • Don't share others' personal information
  • Ask before posting photos of others
  • Report inappropriate content

Reporting Issues​

If you encounter inappropriate behavior:

  1. Long-press the problematic message
  2. Tap Report
  3. Select a reason
  4. Submit the report

Our team reviews reports within 24 hours.

Common Questions​

Q: Can I mute chat notifications? A: Yes! Go to Settings > Notifications > Chat Messages and toggle off, or set to @Mentions Only.

Q: Can I delete my messages? A: Message deletion is not currently available. Be thoughtful about what you send!

Q: Is chat available after the gauntlet ends? A: Chat history remains accessible in completed gauntlets so you can revisit conversations.

Q: Can I block someone? A: Yes. Tap their profile picture in chat, then tap Block. You won't see their messages.

Q: Can I direct message someone? A: Not currently. Chat is only within gauntlets.

Q: Can I leave a chat but stay in the gauntlet? A: No, chat is part of the gauntlet experience. You can mute notifications instead.