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Participating in Mus

Building connections with other members Finding events and activities Buddy match program for new members Navigating Mus Following community guidelines

Communication & Interaction

Using text and voice chat rooms Direct messaging other members

Privacy & Security

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Direct messaging other members

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Learn how to send private messages to other Zakaya members. Direct messaging requires a friendship connection and offers a way to have one-on-one conversations outside of public community spaces.

Direct Messaging Other Members

Overview

Direct messaging on Zakaya lets you have private, one-on-one conversations with other community members. This feature is perfect for continuing discussions that start in public spaces, collaborating on projects, or simply building stronger connections within your community.

How Direct Messaging Works

Friendship Requirement

To send direct messages on Zakaya, you must first be friends with the person you want to message. This helps maintain the community's close-knit feel and reduces unwanted messages.

Adding Friends

There are two main ways to add friends on Zakaya:

  1. From the Side Panel
  2. Click on the "Friends" section in your side navigation panel
  3. Use the "Add Friend" button
  4. Search for the community member by username

  5. Send a friend request

  6. From a User's Profile

  7. Navigate to the user's profile by clicking their username in any community space
  8. Click the "Add Friend" button on their profile
  9. Wait for them to accept your request

Starting a Direct Message Conversation

Once you're friends with someone, you can start a direct message in several ways:

  1. From the Friends List
  2. Open your Friends list from the side panel
  3. Find the friend you want to message

  4. Click the message icon next to their name

  5. From Their Profile

  6. Visit their profile

  7. Click the "Message" button

  8. From Existing Conversations

  9. Access your DM inbox from the messaging icon in the navigation bar
  10. Select an existing conversation or start a new one

Managing Your Direct Messages

Organizing Conversations

Your direct message conversations are automatically organized by recent activity. You can:

  • Pin important conversations to the top of your list
  • Archive older conversations to keep your inbox clean
  • Search through messages using the search function

Privacy Controls

Zakaya gives you control over your messaging experience:

  • Mute notifications from specific conversations
  • Block users if needed (this will also remove your friendship connection)
  • Report inappropriate messages through the three-dot menu in any conversation

When to Use Direct Messages vs. Public Chats

Direct messages are great for:

  • Personal connections and one-on-one networking
  • Private discussions that aren't relevant to the broader community
  • Sensitive topics that require privacy
  • Following up on conversations that began in public spaces

Public chats are better for:

  • Questions that might benefit other community members
  • Discussions related to community-wide topics
  • Sharing resources or information that could help everyone
  • Building broader connections with multiple people simultaneously

Tips for Effective Direct Messaging

  • Be respectful of others' time and privacy
  • Introduce yourself if you haven't interacted much with the person before
  • Consider timing – check the person's status indicator to see if they're active
  • Keep it relevant – have a clear purpose for your message
  • Use public spaces first for questions that could benefit the whole community

Troubleshooting

Can't send a direct message? - Confirm you're friends with the user - Check your internet connection - Make sure you haven't been blocked by the user - Verify the user still has an active account

Message not delivering? - The recipient may be offline (messages will deliver when they return) - There might be a temporary service disruption

If you continue experiencing issues with direct messaging, visit the "Help" section in your account settings or reach out to our support team through the global chat room.

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