Get ready to be really annoyed at Twitter. The social network has updated its direct message policy, allowing everyone and anyone to message you.
"Direct Messages are the best way to take your public Twitter conversations private," Twitter wrote in a blog post on Monday, April 20. "Today, we're changing how direct messaging works so that it's even easier for you to communicate one-to-one or with a chosen group of people, anywhere in the world."
Previously, only users who follow each other could send direct messages. Cue the creepers — now that anyone can send you a DM, regardless of whether you follow them, chances are you will receive messages from strange people you don't know. We have never been happier to not be famous.
There is however a silver lining for those bound to get irritated with their inboxes real fast. Users will be able to turn the Direct Message feature on or off to prevent harassment, by going into Security & Privacy in the Settings menu.
"If you do receive a Direct Message from someone you don't want to privately converse with, you can still take steps to stop them," Twitter writes on its blog.
Even though you can get bombarded with messages if you have the "receive Direct Messages from anyone" feature turned on, it's not all bad. The new policy will allow accounts like those owned by businesses, brands or celebrities to engage directly with their customers or fans without having to follow them. This could be helpful for users looking to get customer support, ask questions or even share stories with someone who inspires them.
Twitter added a new message icon – a plus sign with a conversation bubble – to allow users to write Direct Messages easily on its iOS and Android app. Users just have to enter the name or names of the Twitter users they wish to privately converse with. Users can also privately send photos directly to others with this feature turned on. Up to 30 people can be added to the group Message feature, which rolled out in Janurary.
Those who want to stop someone from sending them a Direct Message and want to otherwise keep receiving DMs from anyone can just block the user to prevent further contact.
Surprisingly, this feature is not so new. Twitter launched the Direct Message anyone feature in October 2013 as a test, but stopped it just one short month later.
The social network also redesigned its homepage in the U.S. in an attempt to get more users. The redone page includes categories that allow nonusers and those who are logged out to see news feeds.
While it isn't clear if these features will increase Twitter's user base, one thing is for sure — you now can come after chat with anyone you want. We're thinking of you, Darth Vader.
It's all fun and games until someone loses his hands, both legs, all his hair & is horribly burnt by molten lava.
— Darth Vader (@darthvader) April 12, 2011
Photo: Johan Larsson| Flickr
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