The Annotator tool is designed to help you interact with documents and the web, whether you are reading alone or with a group. A “highlight” is like taking a digital yellow marker and using it only for your own eyes. We have chosen to keep these simple highlights private by default so that only you see them when you are logged in.
Why highlights are private
The main reason we keep highlights private is to prevent clutter. Imagine if every single selection and highlight everyone made on a single document was instantly visible to everyone else—the page would become completely covered in color and difficult to read!
The Annotator tool’s primary purpose is to encourage discussion and sharing of thoughts. A simple highlight often doesn’t need a conversation. To start a discussion, share your thought, or make your selection visible to others, you must turn your highlight into an annotation.
How to share your thoughts (make a highlight public)
If you want to share your selected text with others—whether it’s the general public or a specific group you are working with—you must add a note or comment to it. This simple action tells the system that your selection is meaningful and meant for sharing.
Here is the simple process for sharing:
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Select the text you want to highlight and share.
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A small menu will pop up with two options: Highlight and Annotate.
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If you choose Highlight, the selection remains private, visible only to you.
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If you choose Annotate, a text box will open. This is where you can type your thoughts, questions, or notes.
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After you type your comment, you choose where to post it (e.g., “Post to Public” or “Post to [Group Name]”). The key is that by adding a comment and posting it, the text you highlighted is automatically shared with your chosen audience and becomes part of the conversation.
Viewing this help and getting more assistance
This help article explains the ‘why’ behind the private setting. If you need help on how to use the Annotator tool, such as creating an account, making your first annotation, or joining a group, you can always visit the main help section on the Annotator website. Look for links labeled “Help” or “Knowledge Base.” If you get stuck, there is always a way to send a message to our support team for personal assistance.
What about sharing a plain highlight?
We understand that some people simply want to share a colored highlight without adding a comment. We are exploring effective ways to allow users to make plain highlights public in the future while still ensuring web pages remain clean and easy to read. For now, adding a simple word or phrase in the comment box is the most effective and reliable way to ensure your selection is shared with your intended audience.