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Direct messages

What direct messages are

Direct messages (DMs) are private conversations, one-to-one or in a group of up to 32 people. Only the people in a conversation can read it. They're separate from your posts and never appear in a timeline.

Open them from Messages in the navigation, or go to /messages. A badge shows how many unread messages you have.

Who you can message

Each person decides who can message them, under Who can message you in Settings → Privacy & Safety:

  • People who follow each other (the default): you can message them only if you follow each other.
  • Anyone I follow: anyone they follow can message them.
  • Anyone: any subscriber can message them.

A block always stops DMs, in both directions. You need a verified email address to send messages.

Starting a conversation

  1. On Messages, choose New message.
  2. Search for people. Only people you can message appear.
  3. Pick one person to Start conversation, or several to Start group. A group can have an optional name.

If you start a one-to-one conversation with someone you already talk to, you return to the existing conversation.

Writing messages

  • Messages use Markdown and can be up to 10,000 characters.
  • Attach up to 8 images per message.
  • Reply quotes a specific message in your answer.
  • Add an emoji reaction to any message.
  • You see when others are typing, and Seen appears under your latest message once everyone else has read it.

Editing and deleting

  • Edit message works on your own messages for 15 minutes after you send them.
  • Delete for me moves a message to your Trash. It only affects your copy; everyone else keeps theirs.
  • Open the Trash tab to Restore message. Deleted messages stay in Trash for 30 days.

Managing a conversation

Open Conversation options at the top of a conversation to:

  • Rename a group conversation.
  • Mute it, so it stops notifying you. Choose Unmute to undo.
  • Report it to the moderators.
  • Leave conversation. You won't receive new messages from it.

Reporting a conversation

Choose Report in the conversation options, pick a reason (Spam, Harassment or bullying, Hateful conduct, Illegal content, or Something else) and add details if you like. Reporting lets the moderators read that conversation, and staff access is audited. See Reporting & safety.

Notifications

New direct messages notify you by push and update the unread badge as they arrive. Change this in Settings → Notifications. See Notifications.