Reddit is a popular social platform that allows users to share news, stories, and media content, and connect with other users.
While Reddit is primarily designed for public discussions, the platform also offers two private messaging features: Direct Messages (DMs) and Chat.
In this guide, we'll explore the features and differences between Reddit's direct message inbox and chat functionality, who can use them, and the pros and cons of both.
What are Reddit Direct Messages?
Direct messages (or "DMs") are private conversations that you can have with other Reddit users or subreddit moderators. This feature allows you to send a message to a user and the entire message chain will only be visible to you and the recipient. DMs are similar to email in that they are not real-time, and the recipient can respond at their convenience.
Direct Messages are found in the Inbox at the top of Reddit's website. You can find the Inbox by clicking the bell icon then click Messages.
The Reddit Inbox is not only for direct messages. It also contains replies to your comments, replies to your posts, and username mentions, and provides a convenient way to reply to these public comments.
What is Reddit Chat?
Reddit Chat is a real-time messaging feature that allows you to have private conversations with other users or groups of users on Reddit. First released in 2017, Chat allows you to exchange messages, media content, and links in real-time with the other user.
Chat is designed to be a faster way to communicate with other users, and it offers features like read receipts and typing indicators.
Unique Features of Direct Messages
Reddit Direct Messages also has several features that Direct Messages doesn't, such as:
- A place for Reddit updates. Reddit itself will use its Messages feature to provide information on site-wide updates, such as changes to their Privacy Policy or announcing Reddit Recap.
- Replies. The Reddit Inbox includes all replies to your posts or comments on Reddit. Using the Inbox you can quickly view every public interaction with your account, and even reply to those replies.
- Mark as unread. The Reddit Inbox supports marking messages as unread so you can come back to them later, where Reddit Chat does not.
- Permalinks. The Reddit Inbox supports generating "permalinks" to messages, which you can use to easily go back to useful messages in the future.
- Supported by third parties. The Reddit provides third parties, like Postpone or Apollo for iOS, with tools to interact with the Reddit Inbox and send direct messages on behalf of users. Reddit does not provide this same support for their Chat feature.
- Supports Modmail. Reddit's DM feature supports messaging subreddit moderators, also known as Modmail. This is the ideal way to ask questions to moderators of a subreddit.
Unique Features of Reddit Chat
Reddit Chat also has several features that Direct Messages doesn't, such as:
- Sending custom emojis. With Chat you can choose from dozens of custom Reddit emojis.
- Message reactions. With Chat you can react to messages with custom emojis, just like on Facebook Messenger, iMessage, or Slack.
- Group conversations. DMs only support one-on-one communication, but Chat supports messaging entire groups of people.
- Images. Chat supports uploading and sending images as part of a chat message.
- Chat request approval. The receiver of a Chat message must approve talking to the sender before a conversation can take place.
Who Can Use Them?
Both direct messages and chat are available to all Reddit users.
To send a direct message, simply go to the user's profile and click "More options..." then click "Send Message."
To start a chat, click on the speech bubble icon on the top right of the Reddit website or app and select the user you want to chat with. Or navigate to a user's profile and click the Chat button.