# Moderating users

# Moderating users

Group access decides which chats a bot works in; per-user controls decide what one person may do inside them. The two are independent.

## The two layers

A group can stay fully authorized while specific users in it are banned, muted, rate-limited, or blocked.

*Two independent layers*

| Layer | Decides | Set from | Set by | Reversal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `/ban` and `/mute` | Whether one person may post in the Telegram group at all | The `/ban` and `/mute` commands in the group | Any Telegram admin of that group, once Admin Moderation is on | A ban is lifted in Telegram; a mute expires after 24 hours |
| Rate limits and blocks | How many generations one username gets per day, or whether it gets any | Management → User Limits in the dashboard | The bot's owner | Edit or delete the restriction, or let its duration expire |

## /ban and /mute

| Command | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `/ban` | Bans the user from the group and deletes their messages. |
| `/mute` | Restricts the user, with no early release. |

> **Note**
>
> **Admin Moderation** is off by default.

Target the user by replying to their message, or by tapping their @-mention from Telegram's autocomplete. A plain typed `@username` does not work; the bot replies with that instruction instead of acting.

- [The Admin Moderation switch](/telegram-bot/owner-moderation#the-admin-moderation-switch)
- [/ban and /mute in full](/telegram-bot/owner-moderation#ban-and-mute)

## Rate limits and blocks

| Setting | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rate Limit | Daily generation cap. Minimum 1, no maximum. |
| Block | Removes the username's access outright. |
| Duration | Permanent (default), 1 hour, 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days. |

`/showlimits`, sent in a DM by the bot's owner or Memescale staff, prints every blocked and rate-limited user on the bot.

- [Rate limits and blocks in full](/telegram-bot/owner-controls#rate-limits-and-blocks)
- [/showlimits](/telegram-bot/owner-controls#showlimits)

## Choosing an action

*Which control fits*

| Situation | Control |
| --- | --- |
| A user generates heavily but isn't abusive | Set a Rate Limit in Management → User Limits |
| A user should stop using the bot but stay in the group | Set a Block in Management → User Limits |
| A user is disrupting the group's chat | `/mute` in the group |
| A user is spamming or abusive | `/ban` in the group |