Messaging & Chat
Messaging & Chat
There are two ways to communicate on the platform: Direct Messages for private conversations between specific people, and Community Chat for open, real-time discussion within a community. They serve different purposes and work a bit differently, so this guide covers both.
Direct Messages
Direct messages are private conversations between you and one or more other members. They're great for coordinating plans, following up after events, or having discussions that don't belong in a public space.
Starting a Conversation
- Go to Messages — you'll find it in the top navigation bar (the chat bubble icon), or under Account on mobile.
- Click New Message to start a new thread.
- Search for members by name — you can select multiple people to create a group conversation.
- Write your first message. An initial message is required to create the thread.
- Click Send to create the conversation.
The Message List
Your message list shows all your conversation threads, sorted by most recent activity. Each thread displays:
- The name(s) of the other participants
- A preview of the last message
- An unread badge if there are new messages you haven't seen (the badge caps at 99+)
Click any thread to open the conversation.
Sending Messages
Type your message in the input field at the bottom of the conversation. You can send it by clicking the send button or pressing Enter on your keyboard.
Group Conversations
When you start a conversation with multiple people, it becomes a group thread. All participants can see and respond to every message in the thread. Group conversations work the same as one-on-one threads — there's no difference in functionality.
Deleting Messages
You can delete your own messages. Deleted messages aren't removed entirely — they're replaced with a "Deleted message" placeholder so the conversation flow still makes sense. Other participants will see that a message was deleted but won't be able to read the original content.
Mobile Layout
On smaller screens, the messages interface switches to a full-width layout. You'll see either your thread list or the active conversation, and you can toggle between them. This makes the most of limited screen space while keeping everything accessible.
Community Chat
Community Chat is a shared conversation space within a community. Think of it as a single, always-on channel where members can talk in real time.
How It Works
- Every community has one chat channel — there are no separate rooms or topics.
- Chat is members-only — you need to be a member of the community to see or participate in the chat.
- Messages appear in real time — no need to refresh the page.
- You can access chat by clicking Chat in your community's side menu.
Deleting Messages in Chat
Just like direct messages, you can delete your own chat messages. They'll show as "Deleted message" to other members.
What Chat Doesn't Have
Community Chat is intentionally simpler than Direct Messages:
- No threads — all messages appear in a single stream
- No unread tracking — there's no badge showing how many messages you've missed
- No message search — you can scroll through history but there's no search function
It's designed to be lightweight and conversational, not a full messaging platform.
When to Use Each
| Scenario | Use | |---|---| | Private conversation with one person | Direct Messages | | Private group coordination | Direct Messages (multi-select recipients) | | Community-wide discussion | Community Chat | | Something that needs a reply later | Direct Messages (unread tracking helps) | | Quick, informal chatter | Community Chat | | Sensitive or personal topics | Direct Messages |
A good rule of thumb: if it's relevant to the whole community and you don't mind everyone seeing it, use Chat. If it's between specific people, use Direct Messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a limit to how many people can be in a group message? A: There's no hard limit, but group messages work best with smaller groups. For larger discussions, Community Chat is a better fit.
Q: Can I leave a conversation? A: Currently there's no option to leave a direct message thread. You can ignore it — you won't receive notifications unless you open the thread.
Q: Are my messages private? A: Direct messages are intended to be visible only to the participants in the conversation. Community Chat messages are visible to all members of that community.
Q: Can I send images or files in messages? A: Messages are text-only at this time. If you need to share a file, you can use the community Files feature (available on paid plans) or share a link.
Q: Can community admins read my direct messages? A: Direct messages are intended for the participants in that conversation. Community Chat is visible to all community members.
Q: What happens to my messages if I leave a community? A: Your direct messages remain — they're not tied to community membership. Community Chat messages you've sent will still be visible to other members.
Need Help?
If you have questions about messaging or run into any issues, contact our support team. We're happy to help.