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Chat & messages

There are two kinds of conversation on DFOS: chat inside a space, and direct messages between people.

Chat in a space​

A space can have chat channels, set up by admins. They're part of the space, so who can read and speak in them follows the space's permissions — most channels are simply open to all members.

What chat can do:

  • Threads. Any message can become a thread — reply to it and the conversation branches off without flooding the channel. A thread reply can optionally be sent to the main channel too.
  • Reactions and mentions. React to messages with any emoji, and @-mention people to get their attention.
  • Pinning. Admins can pin one message per channel, shown at the top.
  • Editing and deleting. You can edit your own messages. Deleting a message — yours, or by an admin in space chat — removes it from the conversation for everyone, without leaving a marker.

Disappearing messages​

A space can turn on disappearing chat: messages older than a chosen window (from an hour up to 90 days) are permanently deleted, in every channel of that space. It's a space-wide setting, admins choose it, and the deletion is real — not hidden, gone. Every member can see the current setting in the space's menu. Direct messages are never affected by a space's disappearing setting.

Direct messages​

Direct messages are between you and the people in the conversation — one-on-one, or a group of up to 25. They aren't tied to any space, and no space admin can see them — a DM is only ever readable by its participants.

How they behave:

  • Anyone can message you by default. If you'd rather not, there's a privacy setting that limits new messages to people you share a space with or people you follow. It only affects new conversations — existing ones keep working.
  • Group conversations need at least three people. Anyone in one can add more people or leave; group chats don't have custom names.
  • Cleaning up. You can archive a conversation to tuck it away — it comes back if the other person writes again. In DMs, only the author can delete a message.

All your conversations live in one inbox, across every space, with threads of their own.