Systems and methods for modifying block items in a hierarchical structure are disclosed herein. The system can receive a request to modify a first block item. The system can query the system for information of displayed block items. The system can receive a set of identifiers of the displayed block items, relational information, and privacy information. The system can determine an indication of displayed subordinate block items associated with the first block item. The system can use the indication of the displayed subordinate block items to query a block database to obtain non-displayed subordinate block items. The system can modify the block database in accordance with the instruction, the displayed subordinate block items, and the non-displayed subordinate block items. The system can determine updated displayed block items using the modified block database. The system can communicate an indication of the updated displayed block items to the client device.