How can organizations control content sharing in ArcGIS Online?

Controlling content sharing in ArcGIS Online primarily occurs through item settings and sharing levels. Each item stored in ArcGIS Online, such as maps, scenes, or layers, has defined sharing settings that determine who has access to it. These settings can be adjusted individually for each item, allowing administrators to decide if the item is shared with everyone (public), just within the organization, or with specific groups or users.

This mechanism provides granular control over content, enabling organizations to maintain privacy and security provisions as needed. For instance, sensitive data can be restricted to specific teams or departments, while general maps for public engagement can be shared more broadly.

In contrast, assigning a specific user to manage content does not directly equate to controlling how that content is shared. Although it may streamline content management, it lacks the specificity of sharing settings. The notion of publishing all content automatically does not offer selective control; such a method could lead to unintended data exposure. Lastly, controlling sharing through a separate external application is not a native feature of ArcGIS Online, as the platform itself provides built-in tools for sharing and managing content directly.