Direct messages are private, one-on-one chats. They arrive in real time, so you can have a quiet back-and-forth with someone without it showing up in anyone's feed.
Where to find it: Open Chats from the sidebar, or use the Message button on someone's profile or the People page.
Start a conversation
- Go to Chats.
- Start a new conversation and pick the person you want to reach.
- Type your message and send it. They get it right away.
Who you can message
To start a brand new conversation with someone, they need to already trust you enough. This keeps strangers from sending you cold messages, while the door stays open between people who actually know each other. Once a conversation exists, it keeps working both ways. You can also message yourself, which makes a handy private space for notes.
No Chats in your sidebar?
Messaging is still rolling out. If you don't see Chats yet, it just means it isn't turned on for your account. It will arrive soon.