Direct messages (DMs) are an important feature of Twitter, now called “X”.
According to The Sprout Social Index™, 60% of brands think private messages are essential for customer service. Also, 55% of brands use direct messages for marketing, showing how useful social commerce can be.
However, many users still don’t fully understand How to DM on Twitter.
What is a Twitter DM?
A Twitter DM, or direct message, is a private message that lets Twitter users talk to each other privately. While most Twitter activities, like “Likes,” @replies, and @mentions, are public, DMs are not.
Private messaging isn’t new in 2022, but Twitter DMs have been around since the app’s early days. Unlike Facebook or Instagram DMs, which are linked to their Messenger apps, Twitter’s DMs are more like traditional email.
What is the current Twitter DM character limit?
Good question! Twitter DMs can be up to 10,000 characters long. This is much more than Twitter’s 240-character limit for tweets.
Can you DM someone who doesn’t follow you on Twitter?
Yes, you can. You might have heard the phrase “DMs are open,” which means a user allows messages from anyone, even if they don’t follow them.
Is it possible to disable Twitter DMs?
Yes, you can disable Twitter DMs. Here’s how, according to @TwitterSupport:
- Select “More” on the sidebar menu.
- Choose “Settings and privacy” > “Privacy and safety” > “Direct Messages.”
- Uncheck the box next to “Allow message requests from everyone.”
Note: If you disable messages from Twitter users, you might still get DMs from people you’ve interacted with before.
How to Send and Manage Direct Messages on X (formerly Twitter)
Sending a Direct Message from X for Android
- Tap the envelope icon to open your messages.
- Tap the message icon to create a new message.
- Enter the name(s) or @username(s) of the people you want to message. You can add up to 256 people in a group message.
- Type your message. You can also add a photo, video, or GIF:
- Tap the photo icon to take a photo, record a video, or attach one from your gallery. You can edit the photo before sending.
- Tap the GIF icon to search for and select a GIF.
- Tap the send icon to send your message.
Deleting a Direct Message or Conversation
- To delete a Direct Message, tap and hold the message and select “Delete message.”
- To delete an entire conversation, tap and hold the conversation and select “Delete conversation.” Alternatively, tap the information icon and select “Delete conversation.”
Note: Deleting a Direct Message or conversation only removes it from your account. Others in the conversation can still see the messages you have deleted.
Managing a Group Conversation
- To see the list of participants, tap the profile photo of the group conversation from your inbox.
- Within a group conversation, tap the information icon to access settings.
Settings options include:
- Edit: Update the group conversation profile photo and name.
- Add members: Add people to the conversation. The group creator is the default admin, and if they leave, the next member to join becomes the admin. Admins can remove members.
- Snooze conversation: Snooze notifications for 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week, or forever.
- Snooze mentions: Control notifications for mentions in the group conversation.
- Report conversation: Report the group conversation.
- Leave conversation: Remove yourself from the group conversation.
Sending a Direct Message via the Web
- Click “Messages” in the left navigation bar.
- Click the “New message” icon at the top.
- Enter the name(s) or @username(s) of the people you want to message. You can add up to 256 people in a group message.
- Click “Next.”
- Type your message. You can also include a photo, video, GIF, or emoji:
- Click the photo icon to upload a photo or video.
- Click the GIF icon to search for and select a GIF.
- Click the “Send” button or press the enter key to send your message.
Note: To start a new line in a message, press the shift and enter keys at the same time. Pressing only the enter key will send your message.
Deleting a Direct Message or Conversation via the Web
- To delete a Direct Message, click on the message and select “Delete.”
- To leave a conversation, open it, click the information icon, and select “Leave conversation.”
Note: Deleting a Direct Message or leaving a conversation only removes it from your account. Others in the conversation can still see the messages you have deleted.
Managing a Group Conversation via the Web
- Within a group conversation, click the information icon to access conversation settings.
Settings options include:
- Edit group name: Update the group name and photo.
- Upload new photo: Upload a new group photo.
- View photo: View the group photo.
- Remove photo: Remove the group photo (if one is uploaded).
Under Notifications, you can:
- Snooze notifications: Snooze notifications for 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week, or forever.
- Snooze mentions: Control notifications for mentions in the group conversation.
Other options include:
- Report conversation: Report the group conversation.
- Leave conversation: Remove yourself from the group conversation.
Ready to Make the Most of Twitter DMs?
Twitter DMs are a great way to build a community and connect with your audience personally. They allow you to have private conversations and get to know people better.
Using DMs effectively is important for any brand or marketer on social media. If you haven’t yet, check out our social media templates to help you communicate better and build stronger relationships with your audience.
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