diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/community.rs b/crates/api_common/src/community.rs
index f8e741a58..1def2111b 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/community.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/community.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ pub struct CreateCommunity {
   pub name: String,
   /// A longer title.
   pub title: String,
-  /// A longer sidebar, or description of your community, in markdown.
+  /// A sidebar for the community in markdown.
+  pub sidebar: Option<String>,
+  /// A shorter, one line description of your community.
   pub description: Option<String>,
   /// An icon URL.
   pub icon: Option<String>,
@@ -147,7 +149,9 @@ pub struct EditCommunity {
   pub community_id: CommunityId,
   /// A longer title.
   pub title: Option<String>,
-  /// A longer sidebar, or description of your community, in markdown.
+  /// A sidebar for the community in markdown.
+  pub sidebar: Option<String>,
+  /// A shorter, one line description of your community.
   pub description: Option<String>,
   /// An icon URL.
   pub icon: Option<String>,
diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/site.rs b/crates/api_common/src/site.rs
index 8316b30ee..8fc091e9d 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/site.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/site.rs
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ pub struct CreateSite {
 /// Edits a site.
 pub struct EditSite {
   pub name: Option<String>,
+  /// A sidebar for the site, in markdown.
   pub sidebar: Option<String>,
   /// A shorter, one line description of your site.
   pub description: Option<String>,
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/community/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/community/create.rs
index f02d733e5..cd0fc985e 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/community/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/community/create.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,11 @@ use lemmy_utils::{
   error::{LemmyErrorExt, LemmyErrorType, LemmyResult},
   utils::{
     slurs::check_slurs,
-    validation::{is_valid_actor_name, is_valid_body_field},
+    validation::{
+      is_valid_actor_name,
+      is_valid_body_field,
+      site_or_community_description_length_check,
+    },
   },
 };
 
@@ -57,8 +61,18 @@ pub async fn create_community(
   let url_blocklist = get_url_blocklist(&context).await?;
   check_slurs(&data.name, &slur_regex)?;
   check_slurs(&data.title, &slur_regex)?;
-  let description =
-    process_markdown_opt(&data.description, &slur_regex, &url_blocklist, &context).await?;
+  let sidebar = process_markdown_opt(&data.sidebar, &slur_regex, &url_blocklist, &context).await?;
+
+  // Ensure that the sidebar has fewer than the max num characters...
+  if let Some(sidebar) = &sidebar {
+    is_valid_body_field(sidebar, false)?;
+  }
+
+  let description = data.description.clone();
+  if let Some(desc) = &description {
+    site_or_community_description_length_check(desc)?;
+    check_slurs(desc, &slur_regex)?;
+  }
 
   let icon = diesel_url_create(data.icon.as_deref())?;
   let icon = proxy_image_link_api(icon, &context).await?;
@@ -68,10 +82,6 @@ pub async fn create_community(
 
   is_valid_actor_name(&data.name, local_site.actor_name_max_length as usize)?;
 
-  if let Some(desc) = &data.description {
-    is_valid_body_field(desc, false)?;
-  }
-
   // Double check for duplicate community actor_ids
   let community_actor_id = generate_local_apub_endpoint(
     EndpointType::Community,
@@ -88,6 +98,7 @@ pub async fn create_community(
   let keypair = generate_actor_keypair()?;
 
   let community_form = CommunityInsertForm {
+    sidebar,
     description,
     icon,
     banner,
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/community/update.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/community/update.rs
index 798f4f4c1..cde8058ee 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/community/update.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/community/update.rs
@@ -41,16 +41,18 @@ pub async fn update_community(
   let url_blocklist = get_url_blocklist(&context).await?;
   check_slurs_opt(&data.title, &slur_regex)?;
 
-  let description = diesel_string_update(
-    process_markdown_opt(&data.description, &slur_regex, &url_blocklist, &context)
+  let sidebar = diesel_string_update(
+    process_markdown_opt(&data.sidebar, &slur_regex, &url_blocklist, &context)
       .await?
       .as_deref(),
   );
 
-  if let Some(Some(desc)) = &description {
-    is_valid_body_field(desc, false)?;
+  if let Some(Some(sidebar)) = &sidebar {
+    is_valid_body_field(sidebar, false)?;
   }
 
+  let description = diesel_string_update(data.description.as_deref());
+
   let old_community = Community::read(&mut context.pool(), data.community_id).await?;
 
   let icon = diesel_url_update(data.icon.as_deref())?;
@@ -84,6 +86,7 @@ pub async fn update_community(
 
   let community_form = CommunityUpdateForm {
     title: data.title.clone(),
+    sidebar,
     description,
     icon,
     banner,
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/site/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/site/create.rs
index 733837de7..e1ea1d992 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/site/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/site/create.rs
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ use lemmy_db_views::structs::{LocalUserView, SiteView};
 use lemmy_utils::{
   error::{LemmyErrorType, LemmyResult},
   utils::{
-    slurs::{check_slurs, check_slurs_opt},
+    slurs::check_slurs,
     validation::{
       build_and_check_regex,
       check_site_visibility_valid,
       is_valid_body_field,
-      site_description_length_check,
       site_name_length_check,
+      site_or_community_description_length_check,
     },
   },
 };
@@ -167,8 +167,8 @@ fn validate_create_payload(local_site: &LocalSite, create_site: &CreateSite) ->
   check_slurs(&create_site.name, &slur_regex)?;
 
   if let Some(desc) = &create_site.description {
-    site_description_length_check(desc)?;
-    check_slurs_opt(&create_site.description, &slur_regex)?;
+    site_or_community_description_length_check(desc)?;
+    check_slurs(desc, &slur_regex)?;
   }
 
   site_default_post_listing_type_check(&create_site.default_post_listing_type)?;
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/site/update.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/site/update.rs
index cce428cc1..085ed69d1 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/site/update.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/site/update.rs
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ use lemmy_utils::{
       check_site_visibility_valid,
       check_urls_are_valid,
       is_valid_body_field,
-      site_description_length_check,
       site_name_length_check,
+      site_or_community_description_length_check,
     },
   },
 };
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ fn validate_update_payload(local_site: &LocalSite, edit_site: &EditSite) -> Lemm
   }
 
   if let Some(desc) = &edit_site.description {
-    site_description_length_check(desc)?;
+    site_or_community_description_length_check(desc)?;
     check_slurs_opt(&edit_site.description, &slur_regex)?;
   }
 
diff --git a/crates/apub/assets/lemmy/objects/group.json b/crates/apub/assets/lemmy/objects/group.json
index bd6e44065..226f50c34 100644
--- a/crates/apub/assets/lemmy/objects/group.json
+++ b/crates/apub/assets/lemmy/objects/group.json
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
   "type": "Group",
   "preferredUsername": "tenforward",
   "name": "Ten Forward",
-  "summary": "<p>Lounge and recreation facility</p>\n<hr />\n<p>Welcome to the Enterprise!.</p>\n",
+  "summary": "A description of ten forward.",
+  "content": "<p>Lounge and recreation facility</p>\n<hr />\n<p>Welcome to the Enterprise!.</p>\n",
   "source": {
     "content": "Lounge and recreation facility\n\n---\n\nWelcome to the Enterprise!",
     "mediaType": "text/markdown"
   },
+  "mediaType": "text/html",
   "sensitive": false,
   "icon": {
     "type": "Image",
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs b/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
index c8479eaba..7ee204ac9 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::{
 use activitypub_federation::{
   config::Data,
   kinds::actor::GroupType,
+  protocol::values::MediaTypeHtml,
   traits::{Actor, Object},
 };
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
@@ -107,8 +108,10 @@ impl Object for ApubCommunity {
       id: self.id().into(),
       preferred_username: self.name.clone(),
       name: Some(self.title.clone()),
-      summary: self.description.as_ref().map(|b| markdown_to_html(b)),
-      source: self.description.clone().map(Source::new),
+      content: self.sidebar.as_ref().map(|d| markdown_to_html(d)),
+      source: self.sidebar.clone().map(Source::new),
+      summary: self.description.clone(),
+      media_type: self.sidebar.as_ref().map(|_| MediaTypeHtml::Html),
       icon: self.icon.clone().map(ImageObject::new),
       image: self.banner.clone().map(ImageObject::new),
       sensitive: Some(self.nsfw),
@@ -144,10 +147,9 @@ impl Object for ApubCommunity {
     let local_site = LocalSite::read(&mut context.pool()).await.ok();
     let slur_regex = &local_site_opt_to_slur_regex(&local_site);
     let url_blocklist = get_url_blocklist(context).await?;
-    let description = read_from_string_or_source_opt(&group.summary, &None, &group.source);
-    let description =
-      process_markdown_opt(&description, slur_regex, &url_blocklist, context).await?;
-    let description = markdown_rewrite_remote_links_opt(description, context).await;
+    let sidebar = read_from_string_or_source_opt(&group.content, &None, &group.source);
+    let sidebar = process_markdown_opt(&sidebar, slur_regex, &url_blocklist, context).await?;
+    let sidebar = markdown_rewrite_remote_links_opt(sidebar, context).await;
     let icon = proxy_image_link_opt_apub(group.icon.map(|i| i.url), context).await?;
     let banner = proxy_image_link_opt_apub(group.image.map(|i| i.url), context).await?;
 
@@ -161,7 +163,8 @@ impl Object for ApubCommunity {
       last_refreshed_at: Some(naive_now()),
       icon,
       banner,
-      description,
+      sidebar,
+      description: group.summary,
       followers_url: group.followers.clone().map(Into::into),
       inbox_url: Some(
         group
@@ -299,10 +302,16 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
 
     assert_eq!(community.title, "Ten Forward");
     assert!(!community.local);
+
+    // Test the sidebar and description
     assert_eq!(
-      community.description.as_ref().map(std::string::String::len),
+      community.sidebar.as_ref().map(std::string::String::len),
       Some(63)
     );
+    assert_eq!(
+      community.description,
+      Some("A description of ten forward.".into())
+    );
 
     Community::delete(&mut context.pool(), community.id).await?;
     Site::delete(&mut context.pool(), site.id).await?;
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/group.rs b/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/group.rs
index 8f138e001..affafe269 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/group.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/group.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
     community_outbox::ApubCommunityOutbox,
   },
   local_site_data_cached,
-  objects::{community::ApubCommunity, read_from_string_or_source_opt},
+  objects::community::ApubCommunity,
   protocol::{
     objects::{Endpoints, LanguageTag},
     ImageObject,
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use activitypub_federation::{
   protocol::{
     helpers::deserialize_skip_error,
     public_key::PublicKey,
+    values::MediaTypeHtml,
     verification::verify_domains_match,
   },
 };
@@ -50,9 +51,13 @@ pub struct Group {
 
   /// title
   pub(crate) name: Option<String>,
-  pub(crate) summary: Option<String>,
+  // sidebar
+  pub(crate) content: Option<String>,
   #[serde(deserialize_with = "deserialize_skip_error", default)]
   pub(crate) source: Option<Source>,
+  pub(crate) media_type: Option<MediaTypeHtml>,
+  // short instance description
+  pub(crate) summary: Option<String>,
   #[serde(deserialize_with = "deserialize_skip_error", default)]
   pub(crate) icon: Option<ImageObject>,
   /// banner
@@ -86,8 +91,7 @@ impl Group {
 
     check_slurs(&self.preferred_username, slur_regex)?;
     check_slurs_opt(&self.name, slur_regex)?;
-    let description = read_from_string_or_source_opt(&self.summary, &None, &self.source);
-    check_slurs_opt(&description, slur_regex)?;
+    check_slurs_opt(&self.summary, slur_regex)?;
     Ok(())
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/instance.rs b/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/instance.rs
index 1f21e76da..0eef948e7 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/instance.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/protocol/objects/instance.rs
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ pub struct Instance {
   pub(crate) content: Option<String>,
   #[serde(deserialize_with = "deserialize_skip_error", default)]
   pub(crate) source: Option<Source>,
+  pub(crate) media_type: Option<MediaTypeHtml>,
   // short instance description
   pub(crate) summary: Option<String>,
-  pub(crate) media_type: Option<MediaTypeHtml>,
   /// instance icon
   pub(crate) icon: Option<ImageObject>,
   /// instance banner
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/impls/community.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/impls/community.rs
index 355979264..8efc579e9 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/impls/community.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/impls/community.rs
@@ -508,6 +508,7 @@ mod tests {
       id: inserted_community.id,
       name: "TIL".into(),
       title: "nada".to_owned(),
+      sidebar: None,
       description: None,
       nsfw: false,
       removed: false,
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
index 544da607b..9f1d00568 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ diesel::table! {
         name -> Varchar,
         #[max_length = 255]
         title -> Varchar,
-        description -> Nullable<Text>,
+        sidebar -> Nullable<Text>,
         removed -> Bool,
         published -> Timestamptz,
         updated -> Nullable<Timestamptz>,
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ diesel::table! {
         #[max_length = 255]
         featured_url -> Nullable<Varchar>,
         visibility -> CommunityVisibility,
+        #[max_length = 150]
+        description -> Nullable<Varchar>,
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/source/community.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/source/community.rs
index 853667f7f..2eb6c143c 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/source/community.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/source/community.rs
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ pub struct Community {
   pub name: String,
   /// A longer title, that can contain other characters, and doesn't have to be unique.
   pub title: String,
-  /// A sidebar / markdown description.
-  pub description: Option<String>,
+  /// A sidebar for the community in markdown.
+  pub sidebar: Option<String>,
   /// Whether the community is removed by a mod.
   pub removed: bool,
   pub published: DateTime<Utc>,
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ pub struct Community {
   #[serde(skip)]
   pub featured_url: Option<DbUrl>,
   pub visibility: CommunityVisibility,
+  /// A shorter, one-line description of the site.
+  pub description: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, derive_new::new)]
@@ -77,7 +79,7 @@ pub struct CommunityInsertForm {
   pub title: String,
   pub public_key: String,
   #[new(default)]
-  pub description: Option<String>,
+  pub sidebar: Option<String>,
   #[new(default)]
   pub removed: Option<bool>,
   #[new(default)]
@@ -114,6 +116,8 @@ pub struct CommunityInsertForm {
   pub posting_restricted_to_mods: Option<bool>,
   #[new(default)]
   pub visibility: Option<CommunityVisibility>,
+  #[new(default)]
+  pub description: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
@@ -121,7 +125,7 @@ pub struct CommunityInsertForm {
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", diesel(table_name = community))]
 pub struct CommunityUpdateForm {
   pub title: Option<String>,
-  pub description: Option<Option<String>>,
+  pub sidebar: Option<Option<String>>,
   pub removed: Option<bool>,
   pub published: Option<DateTime<Utc>>,
   pub updated: Option<Option<DateTime<Utc>>>,
@@ -141,6 +145,7 @@ pub struct CommunityUpdateForm {
   pub hidden: Option<bool>,
   pub posting_restricted_to_mods: Option<bool>,
   pub visibility: Option<CommunityVisibility>,
+  pub description: Option<Option<String>>,
 }
 
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug)]
diff --git a/crates/db_views/src/comment_report_view.rs b/crates/db_views/src/comment_report_view.rs
index c65e121e2..be5e76562 100644
--- a/crates/db_views/src/comment_report_view.rs
+++ b/crates/db_views/src/comment_report_view.rs
@@ -391,6 +391,7 @@ mod tests {
         actor_id: inserted_community.actor_id.clone(),
         local: true,
         title: inserted_community.title,
+        sidebar: None,
         description: None,
         updated: None,
         banner: None,
diff --git a/crates/db_views/src/comment_view.rs b/crates/db_views/src/comment_view.rs
index ac0e03f65..ff1405508 100644
--- a/crates/db_views/src/comment_view.rs
+++ b/crates/db_views/src/comment_view.rs
@@ -1092,6 +1092,7 @@ mod tests {
         actor_id: data.inserted_community.actor_id.clone(),
         local: true,
         title: "nada".to_owned(),
+        sidebar: None,
         description: None,
         updated: None,
         banner: None,
diff --git a/crates/db_views/src/post_view.rs b/crates/db_views/src/post_view.rs
index 41b730c46..4fa2222ae 100644
--- a/crates/db_views/src/post_view.rs
+++ b/crates/db_views/src/post_view.rs
@@ -1834,6 +1834,7 @@ mod tests {
         actor_id: inserted_community.actor_id.clone(),
         local: true,
         title: "nada".to_owned(),
+        sidebar: None,
         description: None,
         updated: None,
         banner: None,
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/utils/validation.rs b/crates/utils/src/utils/validation.rs
index 98b9a2a25..f8da6f609 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/utils/validation.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/utils/validation.rs
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ pub fn site_name_length_check(name: &str) -> LemmyResult<()> {
   )
 }
 
-/// Checks the site description length, the limit as defined in the DB.
-pub fn site_description_length_check(description: &str) -> LemmyResult<()> {
+/// Checks the site / community description length, the limit as defined in the DB.
+pub fn site_or_community_description_length_check(description: &str) -> LemmyResult<()> {
   max_length_check(
     description,
     SITE_DESCRIPTION_MAX_LENGTH,
@@ -368,8 +368,8 @@ mod tests {
       is_valid_matrix_id,
       is_valid_post_title,
       is_valid_url,
-      site_description_length_check,
       site_name_length_check,
+      site_or_community_description_length_check,
       BIO_MAX_LENGTH,
       SITE_DESCRIPTION_MAX_LENGTH,
       SITE_NAME_MAX_LENGTH,
@@ -537,14 +537,14 @@ mod tests {
 
   #[test]
   fn test_valid_site_description() {
-    assert!(site_description_length_check(
+    assert!(site_or_community_description_length_check(
       &(0..SITE_DESCRIPTION_MAX_LENGTH)
         .map(|_| 'A')
         .collect::<String>()
     )
     .is_ok());
 
-    let invalid_result = site_description_length_check(
+    let invalid_result = site_or_community_description_length_check(
       &(0..SITE_DESCRIPTION_MAX_LENGTH + 1)
         .map(|_| 'A')
         .collect::<String>(),
diff --git a/migrations/2024-10-16-141718_add_short_community_description/down.sql b/migrations/2024-10-16-141718_add_short_community_description/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fa8b39af6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2024-10-16-141718_add_short_community_description/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+ALTER TABLE community
+    DROP COLUMN description;
+
+ALTER TABLE community RENAME COLUMN sidebar TO description;
+
diff --git a/migrations/2024-10-16-141718_add_short_community_description/up.sql b/migrations/2024-10-16-141718_add_short_community_description/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..591542ca4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2024-10-16-141718_add_short_community_description/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+-- Renaming description to sidebar
+ALTER TABLE community RENAME COLUMN description TO sidebar;
+
+-- Adding a short description column
+ALTER TABLE community
+    ADD COLUMN description varchar(150);
+