Direct messaging other members

<h1>Direct Messaging Other Members</h1> <h2>Overview</h2> <p>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.</p> <h2>How Direct Messaging Works</h2> <h3>Friendship Requirement</h3> <p>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.</p> <h3>Adding Friends</h3> <p>There are two main ways to add friends on Zakaya:</p> <ol> <li><strong>From the Side Panel</strong></li> <li>Click on the "Friends" section in your side navigation panel</li> <li>Use the "Add Friend" button</li> <li>Search for the community member by username</li> <li> <p>Send a friend request</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>From a User's Profile</strong></p> </li> <li>Navigate to the user's profile by clicking their username in any community space</li> <li>Click the "Add Friend" button on their profile</li> <li>Wait for them to accept your request</li> </ol> <h2>Starting a Direct Message Conversation</h2> <p>Once you're friends with someone, you can start a direct message in several ways:</p> <ol> <li><strong>From the Friends List</strong></li> <li>Open your Friends list from the side panel</li> <li>Find the friend you want to message</li> <li> <p>Click the message icon next to their name</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>From Their Profile</strong></p> </li> <li>Visit their profile</li> <li> <p>Click the "Message" button</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>From Existing Conversations</strong></p> </li> <li>Access your DM inbox from the messaging icon in the navigation bar</li> <li>Select an existing conversation or start a new one</li> </ol> <h2>Managing Your Direct Messages</h2> <h3>Organizing Conversations</h3> <p>Your direct message conversations are automatically organized by recent activity. You can:</p> <ul> <li>Pin important conversations to the top of your list</li> <li>Archive older conversations to keep your inbox clean</li> <li>Search through messages using the search function</li> </ul> <h3>Privacy Controls</h3> <p>Zakaya gives you control over your messaging experience:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Mute notifications</strong> from specific conversations</li> <li><strong>Block users</strong> if needed (this will also remove your friendship connection)</li> <li><strong>Report inappropriate messages</strong> through the three-dot menu in any conversation</li> </ul> <h2>When to Use Direct Messages vs. Public Chats</h2> <p>Direct messages are great for:</p> <ul> <li>Personal connections and one-on-one networking</li> <li>Private discussions that aren't relevant to the broader community</li> <li>Sensitive topics that require privacy</li> <li>Following up on conversations that began in public spaces</li> </ul> <p>Public chats are better for:</p> <ul> <li>Questions that might benefit other community members</li> <li>Discussions related to community-wide topics</li> <li>Sharing resources or information that could help everyone</li> <li>Building broader connections with multiple people simultaneously</li> </ul> <h2>Tips for Effective Direct Messaging</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Be respectful</strong> of others' time and privacy</li> <li><strong>Introduce yourself</strong> if you haven't interacted much with the person before</li> <li><strong>Consider timing</strong> – check the person's status indicator to see if they're active</li> <li><strong>Keep it relevant</strong> – have a clear purpose for your message</li> <li><strong>Use public spaces first</strong> for questions that could benefit the whole community</li> </ul> <h2>Troubleshooting</h2> <p><strong>Can't send a direct message?</strong><br /> - Confirm you're friends with the user<br /> - Check your internet connection<br /> - Make sure you haven't been blocked by the user<br /> - Verify the user still has an active account</p> <p><strong>Message not delivering?</strong><br /> - The recipient may be offline (messages will deliver when they return)<br /> - There might be a temporary service disruption</p> <p>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.</p>