Direct messages (DMs) are private conversations between you and another member. Group chats (group conversations) include several people. This article covers starting a conversation, what you can do with messages, and how chat spaces differ.
Who can do this: Signed-in members. · Where: Web (Messages in the navigation) and the Mateflow app for iOS and Android (Messages tab). · Plan: Direct messages and group chats depend on your community's plan, and your community can turn them off.
Start a direct message or group chat
- On the web, go to Messages and click +. The New Message dialog opens.
- Search by name or username, or pick someone under Suggested (people you follow).
- Click Send message for one person. Add two or more people and click Start group chat.
You can also click Message on a member's profile to send a quick message.
In the app: open the Messages tab, tap the new message button, choose people, and tap Message or Start group chat. On a profile, tap the Send direct message button.
If adding a second person replaces the first, your community doesn't allow group chats.
If your community turned off direct messaging, or its plan doesn't include it, Messages disappears on the web. In the app, the Messages tab stays, without an unread badge, and shows "Messaging is disabled" (turned off by your community) or "Messaging isn't available" (not in its plan). Send direct message on profiles and Send to a friend on posts are hidden.
Choose who can message you
Go to Settings → Privacy & Safety. Under Direct Messages, set Who Can Message You to Anyone, People I Follow, or No One, then click Save Privacy Settings. In the app, it's Who can message you under Settings and privacy → Privacy & safety.
If someone's settings don't allow your message, you see "This user's privacy settings don't allow you to send them a message." If either of you has blocked the other, you see "You can't send messages because one of you has blocked the other."
Reply, react, and manage messages
On the web, hover over a message (or long-press on a touch screen):
- React adds an emoji. Reply quotes the message in your answer.
- More offers Forward, Copy message text, Pin, Report message (other people's messages), and Delete (your own).
In the app, long-press a message for Reply, Copy, Forward, Pin, Edit (your own), Delete, and Report. You can edit a sent message only in the app.
When you react to someone's message, they get a notification that shows your emoji and opens the chat at that message.
Pin messages in a conversation
Pin important messages to keep them at the top of the conversation. Choose Pin on a message. The pinned bar shows the latest pin. Open Pinned Messages to see them all, drag to reorder, or click one to jump to it. In a chat space, only the space's moderators can pin messages. Everyone can see the pinned ones.
Forward a message
Choose Forward on a message. In Forward message, pick up to 5 of your conversations, optionally Add a comment, and click Forward. In the app, it's Forward to….
Find shared files and search a conversation
- Files: on the web, click the conversation's name or the info button, then Media & Files to see photos, videos, and files shared there. Use Search files... to filter them.
- Search: open the conversation's ⋮ menu and choose Search in conversation. Filter by From me, Has media, or Has files, then click a result to jump to it. In the app, tap the search icon in the conversation.
Format messages and @mention people
Messages support simple Markdown formatting. Click Formatting help in the message box for a reminder:
**bold**,*italic*,~~strikethrough~~,`inline code`and code blocks> quoteand lists that start with-- Pasted links become clickable. Headings, images, and
[text](link)links show as typed.
On the web, press Enter to send and Shift + Enter for a new line. Ctrl/⌘ + B, I, or E adds bold, italic, or code.
To mention someone, type @ and pick a name. In a DM or group chat, you can mention its members. In a chat space, you can mention the space's members. They get a notification and can jump straight to your message. If your community has turned off mentions, @names show as plain text and nobody is notified.
Organize conversations
Open a conversation's ⋮ menu to Mute conversation (for 1 hour up to Forever), Archive conversation, Pin conversation to the top of your list, Block user, or Delete conversation. In the app, long-press a conversation in the list.
In a group chat you're allowed to add people to, choose Add participants in the ⋮ menu, or click Add people under Members in the info panel. The info panel also has Leave group. To rename a group chat, open its info screen in the app.
How chat spaces differ from direct messages
A chat space is a space where all members share one live chat. Only the space's members can read it, even when the space is public. Non-members see "Only members can see this conversation." and a prompt to join.
In a chat space on the web, you can react, reply, forward, and search messages (Search in chatroom). The ⋮ menu also has Jump to date, Saved messages, All threads, and Notifications. Regular chat messages don't send notifications; under Notifications, choose whether @mentions and reactions to your messages do. In the app, chat spaces don't offer replies, forwarding, or pins. See Search and discover content to find chat spaces to join.
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