Roadmap is very important to help our clients understand ShaunSocial’s development direction to be able to plan the development of their own social network. Regularly, we try to release a new version every two months. Each version will include some important new features, fix bugs of the previous version and improve current features based on suggestions from the team and clients. Below is the general roadmap, please note that this roadmap will be updated regularly based on customers’ opinions and actual needs. We only have specific plans for the version under development.

Version 1.0 – Done

• ShaunSocial core features for both WEB and Mobile apps.

Version 1.1 – Web package is ready to download. More details here . Apps is In progress and will release at 1.2 version

• Ewallet: Ewallet is a tool that allows users on your site to deposit money, withdraw money and use money in their wallets to perform online transactions inside ShaunSocial platform. The ewallet’s currency is set by admin and admin can set the conversion rate to fiat currency.
• Pages plugin
• Fix the found bugs from version 1.0
• Improved core features follow suggestions from clients.

Version 1.2 – released – more details here

• Ads plugin: Is plugin that allows admin to sell ad to members. Ad can be targeted by location, gender, hashtag….
• Ewallet improvements (Send mass credits from admin to members, send credits when chatting thru chat plugin…)
• mobile app 1.1 that include new features from 1.1 version
• Monetization: Membership (recurring membership)
• Fix the found bugs from version 1.1
• Improved core features follow suggestions from clients.

Version 1.3 – Release, more details here

• mobile apps 1.2 for core 1.2 version – Released here
• Monetization (Membership, …….) – continue adding more option for site owner to monetize
• Groups (pin post in group)
• Polls
• Reels/short videos
• Share and play the youtube/tiktok link directly inside Shaun
• Feed views count
• Photo + gif comment
• Post privacy
• Set warning content for a post
• replies of comment – should show “oldest to newest”
• Export user to csv
• Profile fields at sign up setting to allow admin to enable/disable DOB, gender and Location at sign up form.
• Fix the found bugs from version 1.2
• Improved core features follow suggestions from clients.

Version 1.4 – in progress – Release, more details here

• Mobile apps 1.3 for core 1.3 version – 100% done.
• Video stories – moved to 1.5
• 2 Factor Authentication
• paystack payment gateway for Africa client
• Google translation option to post to allow to translate content posted by user thru google api – moved to 1.5
• Announcements/Pin to top for profile, pages and home page
• Paid content
• Push notification from browsers — moved to 1.5
• Classified ads (Marketplace) – moved to 1.5
• Phone verification sign up step
• Invite only mode
• Site map for SEO – moved to 1.5
• Voice recording when sending message
• Many small improvements follow suggestions from members at demo site.
• Fix the found bugs from version 1.3

Version 1.5 – done, see release note here

• mobile Apps for 1.4 – released, see release note here
• Site map for SEO
• Video stories: allow to upload a video to a story
• Google translation option to post to allow to translate content posted by user thru google api
• Fundraising plugin – paid plugin
• Share thru message improvement: Custom list: a bit hard to understand . Should just have an option to send directly instead select a list
• Share a Paid content: Option to select blurred or upload a custom thumb. blurred will be default selected
• Allow to translate name of the language also. Suggested from client here
• Become a creator improvement – should open model popup to finish all requirements instead of redirect. Suggestion from client here
• Tags, hashtags and link inside a story should be clickable. Suggestion from client here
• Allow to click outside of the Post modal to close like with comments. Suggestion from client here
• Storage: Add bunny (remove as it’s not compatible with S3 yet, more details here ) backblaze and Cloudflare R2
• Allow member to search content in pages like we did for groups
• Global search improvement: user can see his/her search history. Suggestion from client here
• Option to “auto play video” option in admincp for admin to turn on/off
• Upgrade Laravel and Vue version
• Payment gateway: nowpayments.io, Binance pay, razorpay.com and cashfree.com
• Profile page: Add title for “Link” field
• AI chat bot integration (GPT, Perplexity, Grok, Gemini and Claude)
• Vibb: a way to forward or reverse the vibb video when watching.
• Login using email, phone or username
• webm and heic format support
• Admin and super admin can view all feeds by default regardless the Home feed setting in admin panel
• Fix the found bugs from version 1.4 if any

Version 1.5.1 – Done, release notes here

• undefined error
• Chatbot issues
• Share thru chat: Can’t see last item issue
• still can see zoom option when view the vibb directly thru URL issue
• Translate comment, reply, post and message
• Can’t upload the language file (json) in admincp if it’s wrong format. System should show error message instead of doing nothing
• Email sending issue with laravel 12
• Become creator: added the pricing compare table at “membership upgrade” step
• Video stories issue: The video ends but the progress of the story is still playing
• View the users’ interaction Count section on a Vibb and expand the video, and then pause, can’t play it again, more details here
• Activity feed: Show “Show more” after 200 char instead of 500 char as it’s now
• still can see zoom option when view the vibb directly thru URL issue
• Some issues related to chatBot
• 2FA issue when “Force login” is enable
• Technical issue when switching pages

Version 1.5.2 – released 19 -Jan-2026. More details here

• AI moderation feature: Auto Detect and flag inappropriate text, images, or videos (hate speech, adult, spam, violence…)
• mobile App 1.5.1 (Released)
• Watermark for photo at feeds
• Some UI improvements
• Browser push notification + PWA for shaun
• Switch page improvement: Allow to switch between pages and users directly instead of switch back to user first as it’s now
• Custom CSS in admincp for site owner to insert his own custom csss
• Notification on top of the home feed to let me know know that there is new posts like x.com does
• Can’t our withdrawal payment details be saved instead of being asked for every time
• Pages plugin: option to disable
• Admin panel: Improve menu system to make it more logical
• Found bugs from 1.5.1

Version 1.5.3 – Released

• mobile App for 1.5.2 (done)
• Classified ads (Marketplace)
• Open ID -testing
• 18+ content waring popup (can enable/disable in admcp), it’s good for 18+ site – testing
• Stripe + paypal payment gateway for online payment instead of eWallet only – testing
• Mux + cloudflare integration for video processing – testing – It’s bit hard to add it as core feature. Will sell it as separate paid integration here
• Option to set profile picture field as required or not at sign up form. – done
• Remove https from watermark to make the default water mark shorter – done
• Found bugs from 1.5.2 – in progress

Version 1.5.4 – released 30-June-2026. More details here

• Live streaming – integrate with agora.io released here
• mobile Apps for 1.5.3 – released
• E-learning – paid plugin – released here
• Events plugin – released in 1.5.4
• Referral plugin – allows member to invite friend to join and then earn commission – done
• Plugin management system – allow install/uninstall plugin in direcly in admin cpanel.
• Found bugs from 1.5.3 – done

Version 1.5.5 – released, see more details here

• Group text chat
• App 1.5.4 – released
• Can enable PWA without asking firebase setup
• Support Markdown format for shaun when sharing a post
• bulk mail sending in admincp
• Sounds notification on chat and notification improvement for chat
• Allow to add free package into membership comparison page
• make the size of photo in the comment bigger like fb
• Add option to edit message
• Fix issue: Tenor API was officially shut down by Google on June 30, 2026,
• Fixed  Paypal issue when deposit funds. Money can’t go thru although the funds has been credited into user ewallet
• Add option to lock delete or modify a specific account. It’s good for you to create a demo account and don’t want to allow people to change or delete it
• Ads: improves to allow multiple country targets
• Fixed the issue: t’s not possible to add CSV files to the countries. Only the first one is imported, while the rest are not saved.
• Fixed the issue: FIX] Error 500 / 2-Minute Downtime when clicking “Clear Cache”
• Fixed the issue: a review feed for page or a listing (marketkplace) page does not show title
• Fix the issue: If you sign up/in using social login -> can’t get the password to enter to make payment thru ewallet. Now you can reset your password using social login
• Add option to block being mentioned if users don’t want to be in to privacy setting
• Marketplace plugin improve: Import category from csv, can set currency icon to show before or after price. the listing title is labeled as *“Name”, which is the same label used on the registration form. This cannot be changed because modifying it changes the label everywhere, including places where it should remain **”Name”*. The marketplace should have its own separate label for the listing title.

Version 1.5.6

• Paid themes
• New default theme
• Improved core features follow suggestions from clients.
• Passkey for login: A passkey is a digital credential that replaces traditional passwords, letting you log into accounts using your fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock
• Improved core features follow suggestions from clients.
• App 1.5.5
• Upgrade toktik like and onlyfan like platform to 1.5.5 version
• Local network like next-door turn key solution.

Version 1.6

• Monetization (Membership, paid content….) – continue adding more options for site owner to monetize
• Web 3 integration
• laravel 13 – skip to next version
• Live streaming – integrate with agora.io – charge member per minutes – paid plugin – released
• Audio/video call – integrate with agora.io – charge member per minute, video quality and number of view – Paid plugin released
• Improved core features follow suggestions from clients.

Version 1.7

• Job posting
• Events – come with core 1.5.4
• Elearning – paid plugin
• Login with QR code (for apps only)
• gamification feature to keeps members coming back for more with incentives for earning points, moving up levels, and unlocking rewards.
• Monetization (Membership, paid content….) – continue adding more options for site owner to monetize
• Fix the found bugs from version 1.6
• Improved core features follow suggestions from clients.

and Suggestions from clients need to be considered

Suggestions for ShaunSocial 1.5.6

Here are some ideas that I think could make ShaunSocial 1.5.6 significantly stronger, especially for larger communities and third-party developers.

The focus should not necessarily be on adding more plugins, but on improving the Core and making ShaunSocial more flexible.

1. Advanced Roles & Permissions

Allow administrators to create custom roles such as:

• Moderator
• Marketplace Moderator
• Event Manager
• Support
• Verified Seller

Permissions should be granular, for example:

events.manage
marketplace.moderate
reports.manage
users.verify

Plugins should also be able to register their own permissions.

2. Notification Center 2.0

Users should be able to configure each notification type separately:

• In-App
• Push
• Email
• Disabled

Also useful:

• Mute for 1/8/24 hours
• Quiet hours
• Mute individual group chats
• Notification grouping

3. Better Feed Controls

Different feed modes would improve the user experience:

For You | Following | Latest

Administrators could configure which content types appear in the main feed.

Users could optionally filter:

Posts | Groups | Pages | Events | Marketplace | Videos

4. Moderation Center

A central moderation dashboard for reports from:

• Posts
• Comments
• Users
• Groups
• Chat
• Marketplace
• Events

Reports could have:

Priority → Assigned Moderator → Status → Internal Notes → History.

Instead of only banning users, moderators should also be able to issue warnings or temporary restrictions.

Example:

No Chat for 7 days
No Marketplace for 30 days
No Comments for 24 hours

5. Verification System

Users, Pages and organizations should be able to request verification.

Workflow:

Request → Review → Approved/Rejected → Verification Badge

Administrators should be able to define different verification requirements.

6. Scheduled Posts & Drafts

Allow users/pages to save posts as drafts or schedule publication.

Example:

Publish now

or

Schedule: September 20, 18:00

This would be especially useful for Pages and professional communities.

7. Collections / Saved Content

Instead of only saving posts, users could create collections.

Examples:

Saved Events
Interesting Posts
Equipment
Watch Later

8. Better Blocking & Safety

Blocking should completely separate users wherever possible.

A blocked user should not be able to:

• Message
• Mention
• Follow
• Send friend requests
• Appear in recommendations
• Interact with the user’s content

9. Plugin Permission API

A central permission system would be extremely useful for third-party developers.

Example:

Permission::check($user, ‘event.manage’)

Plugins could register permissions such as:

event_ticket.refund
marketplace.manage
verification.approve

This would integrate perfectly with custom roles.

10. Better Plugin Hooks / Events

ShaunSocial should expose more Core events that plugins can listen to.

Examples:

UserRegistered
UserVerified
PostCreated
EventJoined
MarketplaceListingCreated
PaymentCompleted
UserReported

This would allow developers to extend ShaunSocial without modifying Core files.

11. Webhooks

Administrators should be able to create outgoing webhooks.

Example:

User registered → Webhook
Payment completed → Webhook
Event created → Webhook
Marketplace item sold → Webhook

This would make integrations with external systems much easier.

12. Plugin Update Safety / Rollback

Plugin updates should become safer.

Before updating:

1. Check ShaunSocial compatibility
2. Check PHP requirements
3. Check dependencies
4. Create backup
5. Run migrations
6. Validate installation

If the update fails:

Automatic rollback to the previous version.

The AdminCP should also show which plugin caused an error.

This would be extremely useful for production communities.

13. Plugin Maintenance Mode

Administrators should be able to temporarily disable a plugin without breaking existing content, routes or feeds.

Example:

Marketplace → Maintenance Mode

Users see:

“This feature is temporarily unavailable.”

instead of errors.

14. Public Developer API

A better documented API for third-party developers would greatly expand ShaunSocial.

It could include:

• Authentication/API tokens
• Users
• Feed
• Groups
• Pages
• Events
• Marketplace
• Notifications
• Permissions
• Webhooks

Plugins should also be able to expose their own API endpoints.

15. Admin Analytics Dashboard

More useful statistics in AdminCP:

• DAU / MAU
• New registrations
• Active users
• Posts/comments
• Messages
• Groups
• Events
• Marketplace listings
• Membership revenue
• Storage usage
• Reports/moderation activity

16. Custom Navigation Builder

Allow administrators to completely configure navigation:

• Position
• Icon
• Desktop/mobile visibility
• User roles
• Membership levels
• Age groups

This would remove the need for custom modifications just to change navigation.

17. Feature Flags

Administrators could enable new features only for:

• Administrators
• Selected roles
• Beta testers
• Percentage of users

This would make testing new features much safer.

18. Youth Protection Integration

The planned Youth Protection system should ideally use the same central permission architecture.

For example:

ALLOW
DENY
REQUIRE_GUARDIAN_APPROVAL

This could then work across Chat, Events, Marketplace, Payments, Groups and third-party plugins.

Overall Architecture

The most important improvement would be making ShaunSocial more extensible:

Core Permissions
↓
Roles
↓
Youth Protection
↓
Plugin API / Hooks
↓
Webhooks
↓
Third-party Plugins

This would reduce the need for Core modifications and make it much easier for developers and community owners to customize ShaunSocial.

For 1.5.6, I would personally focus more on strengthening the Core, developer API, permissions, moderation and plugin infrastructure rather than simply adding more standalone features.

• AI integration
• Paid plugins from 3rd. More details here
• Option to remove the message logs in admin panel. More details here
• *blurr adult content for underage or for users who are not interested or completely block them because of adsense and playstore policy. ADDED
• *Sponsored ads and feeds *sponsored pages and groups. *blurr adult content for underage or for users who are not interested or completely block them because of adsense and playstore policy. *contents border radius 12px, *Shared contents border radius 0 0 12px 12px, *Reels(fullscreen) *sponsored feeds/ads appear between stories, and reels. *Random trending posts suggestion on home feeds *Show posts to user based on country, search history, *Backlaze storage *Fastpay storage *Mpesa payment *Weather plugin *Live sports(Live score) with notifications plugin *Games. *Random emails notification/reminders like you are being missed, New posts since your last login, Somebody you follow as just followed 5 people. *Post views counter *Posts analytics *Budges with different colors e.g for celebs, politicians, NGO e.t.c *Market place. *Question and answers sections. *App store section *Image filters -> more details here
• Reel plugin
• DigitalOcean Space storage service – ADDED
• monitoring system must be added to the videos and images uploaded by the user
• Brute Force Detection
  Enable brute force attack detection, System will block the user account if hacker try to login with invalid password too many times to guess the correct account password
• Censored Words Enabled (Censored Words)
• Crypto payment gateways
• View count + play youtube and tiktok video directly. Suggestion from here. ADDED
• Ads: can target multiple location. Suggestion from Ronald Kenyatta
• Sign up fields: should has option to hide/show/set required for basic fields like location, gender and DOB. Suggestion from Ronald Kenyatta ADDED
• Add “active xx ago” under user name . Suggestion from Ronald Kenyatta
• post link should be randomly number not exactly post number easy for people to see how many post are there this leaks site info 🤔 this is 1087 Posts in this site. Suggestion from Ronald Kenyatta
• add auto spam features like limited comments per day, posts limit per and likes limits or follow day etc
• should not see the option to report our own posts DONE
• User to be able to register on site using mobile number with verification using twilio etc make that option available in admin
• it will be cool 😎 if on search user can see his/her search history including profiles
• online security, member data security – suggest from Mikel
• Add the possibility that when the user enters the account, a message will appear in the chats that a device has entered the account. Add the devices section so that the user can manage the devices in the account, more details here
• adding audio uploads see here
• User badges
• Are you going to add a “Media” tab to profiles like you have for groups? I think that is important.
• Hide chat icon from tablet view
• I appreciate your Efforts and Commitment to Serving Excellence. I have attached some files, please Look into them as a “Hot fix”, and See how Beautiful it will be. 1. the Private messaging Section is Too basic and needs attention, and the Emoji’s display on a straight line which doesn’t Seem appealing for A vast user base. 2. each App should display the Current version on the About Page. 3. on the Settings page Users Should Have a “Check For Updates” Button and A set app To “auto Update” when there is a newer Version, giving the users the Ability to choose if they want it to auto update or manually update it by themselves, additionally, there should be a notification to user’s when there is a new update and if after maybe 30 days without Updating the app, it sets a manual update screen for users to be forced to update the app. number 3 can be reimagined, and more suggestions are invited from @everyone . More details here
• Add bunny, Cloudflare R2 and MEGA S4:
  Backblaze It seems cheap but there you pay for transfer.  Only R2 and S4 are profitable (you can choose depending on the specific platform). When will R2 and S4 be released? All others don’t count because they are very expensive. S3 AWS It’s completely out of the question because it’s a rip-off. In short: Cloudflare R2 – the best choice for small projects and testing (free tier). MEGA S4 – pays off for larger data volumes (>1 TB) and the need for predictable costs. more details here
• sign up and login using phone number
• It should be possible to reshare a post that has already been reshared. In other words, a retweeted post should be able to be retweeted again.
• 2) When the setting “Who can see your posts and other account information” is set to “my followers”, followers can view the profile information and posts, which is great. However, similar to Twitter and Instagram, if a profile is private, follow requests should require approval by the account owner. (Since this is more of a new feature rather than a simple improvement, it may not be ready for v1.4.)
• 3) Post links should not be in the format `/post/2678`, but rather something like `username/post/id` or `username/status/id`. It would make more sense for posts to be directly linked to the user, just like on Twitter and other platforms.
• 6) In the report system, the topics for reporting users and posts should be separated. For example, a user cannot be reported for copyright infringement, but a post can. Likewise, a post cannot be reported for being a fake account, but a user can. In short, separating report topics for users and posts would be a more logical approach.
• 7) Adding music to the Vibb feature is currently quite difficult. It’s nearly impossible for users to upload all songs manually. Instead, integration with a music library like Spotify could be considered. Additionally, original Vibb sounds should be usable directly in videos, similar to TikTok and Instagram.
• 8) On the message page, the URL to access a chat looks like /chat/inbox/id. I believe this isn’t ideal from a security perspective. Just like on Instagram, the chat should open directly when clicked, without exposing any IDs in the URL. In fact, when you click the chat icon at the bottom right of the site, it’s already possible to switch between conversations without showing any ID. I think the messaging system should work the same way. more details here
• More here

Have an ideas in mind and want to share with us? please contribute here