Media Privacy Top Questions

What is Media Privacy?  

Media Privacy is a new feature available in Matrix, that provides listing agents and brokers with greater control over how their photos and supplements are managed in an off-market status (such as sold, withdrawn, cancelled, or expired). 

Before Media Privacy, when a listing moves to “Closed” status, all photos and other media remained visible on third-party websites. This can raise privacy concerns for sellers, especially when interior photos after the transaction is complete. The Media Privacy tool helps address these concerns by allowing agents to: 

• Select only a single photo to remain publicly viewable after the listing closes 

• Restrict access to the remaining photos and media files to only show within the MLS.  

• Control visibility of supplements (such as disclosures, floor plans, utility summaries, or marketing brochures) by setting audience restrictions (private, public or conditional)  

This added layer of media control helps agents protect the privacy and security of their clients, meet compliance obligations, and ensure that sensitive property content is not unnecessarily exposed or archived by external sites. 

Ultimately, Media Privacy allows agents to provide better post-sale service to their clients by aligning with updated expectations for data privacy, while still supporting the archival needs of the MLS and industry professionals. 

Is this the same thing as marking ‘Publish to Internet’ as No?  

No, this is not the same as marking "Publish to Internet = No," which removes the entire listing and all its content from public websites entirely. Media Privacy offers selective control, while "Publish to Internet = No" is a complete removal from visibility on the internet. The Media Privacy tool gives agents more flexibility to protect client privacy while maintaining a limited online presence if desired. 

When should I use it?  

Someone should use Media Privacy when they want to control what listing media remains visible online after the property goes off-market (sold, expired, or withdrawn),but without removing the listing entirely from public view. Media Privacy offers a middle ground between completely removing a listing using the “Publish to Internet = No” setting and leaving all photos and documents available after the listing closes. 

Here is a common situation where using photo Media Privacy might be helpful: 

• When the seller requests limited exposure post-sale. Some clients don’t want their home's photos online after it’s sold but are okay with one exterior photo remaining and this will allow this listing to still have a presence online and avoid full removal via "Publish to Internet = No" 

Why would I use this for supplements? 

Media Privacy offers enhanced control over supplement visibility by providing three distinct visibility statuses: Private, Public, and Conditional. 

• Private: Supplements are visible only to you, your broker, and MLS staff. 

• Public: Supplements are visible to all MLS members but are not sent to third-party websites. This was the default setting used in the system prior to the Media Privacy update. 

• Conditional: Supplements are shown publicly only when the listing is in an active (on-market) status and hidden once the listing moves off-market. 

This granular control helps agents manage sensitive documents effectively, balancing privacy with the need for transparency during the listing lifecycle. 

When would my supplements be private, public, or conditional? 

The visibility of supplements is at the discretion of the user. Below are examples of when you might choose each setting: 

• Public: Use this for documents like disclosures, floor plans, or utility summaries — anything you want accessible to MLS members and appraisers. (Note: Public does not mean third-party websites. It remains in the MLS only.) 

• Private: Best for sensitive internal documents like the Office Exclusive Certification or any materials meant only for you, your broker, and MLS staff. 

• Conditional: Ideal for brochures, feature sheets, or marketing materials that comply with MLS rules and are only relevant while the listing is on-market. These will automatically be hidden once the listing goes off-market. 

Can I put contracts in as a private supplement? 

No. 

Can I decide to opt-in to Media Privacy after my listing has closed?  

Media Privacy is only available when a listing is in an active (on-market) status. If photos or media need to be suppressed after the listing has been taken off the market (“Sold”, “Expired”, “Cancelled”, or “Withdrawn”),turn off the “Publish to Internet” to remove the listing and all associated media from public websites. 

What statuses will Media Privacy take effect?  

Media Privacy takes effect when a listing is in the following statuses: “Sold”, “Expired”, “Cancelled”, or “Withdrawn”. When moved to one of these statuses, third-party websites will display only the selected photo, and all conditional supplements will be removed from the MLS view.  

Why doesn't “Hold” trigger Media Privacy?  

Since “Hold” is a temporary status and the expectation is that the listing will be reactivated, media privacy does not take effect.  

Are Media Privacy options mandatory?  

For photos, using Media Privacy is optional. You can choose whether or not to set visibility preferences. However, for supplements, you are required to select a visibility setting (Private, Public, or Conditional) in order to complete the upload. This ensures all documents are handled appropriately and comply with MLS rules regarding visibility and access.  

Does this require in-depth training?  

No, it’s simple to use. Just watch the quick tutorial video, and you’ll be ready to go!