diff --git a/src/controllers/groups.js b/src/controllers/groups.js
index 93a39a26f3..289e950bdd 100644
--- a/src/controllers/groups.js
+++ b/src/controllers/groups.js
@@ -264,10 +264,15 @@ api.flagChatMessage = function(req, res, next){
   if(!message) return res.json(404, {err: "Message not found!"});
   if(message.uuid == user._id) return res.json(401, {err: "Can't report your own message."});
 
+  // Log user ids that have flagged the message
   if(!message.flags) message.flags = {};
   if(message.flags[user._id]) return res.json(401, {err: "You have already reported this message"});
-
   message.flags[user._id] = true;
+
+  // Log total number of flags (publicly viewable)
+  if(!message.flagCount) message.flagCount = 0;
+  message.flagCount++
+
   group.markModified('chat');
   group.save(function(err,_saved){
     if(err) return next(err);
diff --git a/src/models/group.js b/src/models/group.js
index 3e00370b67..be66b59fa7 100644
--- a/src/models/group.js
+++ b/src/models/group.js
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ var chatDefaults = module.exports.chatDefaults = function(msg,user){
     text: msg,
     timestamp: +new Date,
     likes: {},
-    flags: {}
+    flags: {},
+    flagCount: 0
   };
   if (user) {
     _.defaults(message, {