Messages, Groups, and Notifications

Beyond the public channels, the Community carries a full private-messaging layer.

Direct Messages

Open Messages in the community sidebar to chat one-on-one. A conversation starts from a member's profile: open it from a post, a reply, an @mention, or a channel's member list and choose Message. The first message to someone new arrives as a message request they can accept or decline. Nobody can flood your inbox uninvited. Message requests, group invitations and contact requests wait in the Requests row at the top of Messages, and unread counts show on the sidebar the moment something arrives.

Contacts

Contacts are your own network inside the community. Choose Add Contact on a member's profile and they decide whether to accept; accepting someone's message request connects you as well. Contacts message each other without a request, and they are the people you can put into a group. Contacts, right under Requests at the top of Messages, lists everyone you've connected with, who is online, and any requests waiting for you.

Private Groups

Create a group conversation, name it, and add people from your contacts or share an invite link (links expire after a week). Group admins can manage members, roles, and settings. Groups are private: only members see them.

Notifications and Bookmarks

Replies, quotes, reactions, and mentions on your messages land in Catch Up, each linking straight to the conversation: new ones at the top, the ones you've seen under Earlier, and reactions to the same message grouped into one line. The bell at the top of every page lists the latest ones too: click one to open the message it's about, or Open Community Catch Up for the full list. Bookmarks keeps any message you've saved, one click away.

With push turned on, messages, requests, invitations, replies, and mentions also reach your phone or computer. Pick exactly which ones in Settings → Notifications; reactions start off. Details in Choose Which Notifications You Get.

Staying in Control

• Mute or block any member from their profile. Blocked members can't message you.
• Report a post, message, or member; reports go to community moderators for review.
• Moderators and admins can remove content and restrict accounts that break the rules. Moderation is built into the product, not bolted on.