How to DM on Twitter
So you want to DM someone on Twitter, or as the youths call it, "slide into someone's DMs." Sending a DM, which stands for "direct message" is a convenient way to communicate discretely on the platform — especially if you don't have that person's email address or other contact info.
The reasons people DM on Twitter vary from innocent to x-rated, but whatever the reason, it's a useful feature to know about.
There are few limitations from Twitter that will help you understand how this works. You can only DM someone who:
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Follows you OR
Has "opted in to receive Direct Messages from anyone." Some accounts can't be messaged because they have disabled this feature.
So keep that in mind.
How to DM on the mobile app
If you're DMing someone with the app, then first things first, you'll need to make sure the Twitter app is downloaded on your phone and that you are logged in. Then, open up Twitter. At the bottom of the screen, tap the envelope icon, which will take you to the messages inbox.
Tap the icon that's an envelope with a little plus sign on it to start a new message.
Once you've opened up a new message, enter the name or username of the person you'd like to send a message to. You can also send a message to multiple people.
In your message you can include a photo or video by allowing access to your camera or gallery or a GIF by tapping the GIF icon to search and select from the media library. When your message is ready, tap the paper plane icon to send.
You can also DM someone by going to their profile page and tapping the envelope icon next to their name. This will direct you to a new message window.
SEE ALSO: Best sexting apps
How to DM on a web browser
On a web browser, make sure that you are logged in. Access your messages inbox by clicking "Messages" on the lefthand side of the screen.
Once in your inbox, click the envelope with the plus sign icon at the top of the page.
This will generate a message window, where you can type in the name or username of the person(s) you wish to send a message to, then click "Next." In the message window, you can add a photo or video by clicking on the photo icon or a GIF by clicking on the GIF icon. When your message is ready, hit the "Return" key or click the paper plane icon to send.
To DM an account from its profile page, click on the envelope icon next to their name. This will direct you to a message with that user in your inbox.
Topics Social Media X/Twitter
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
