Quick Tips re Direct Messages

If someone is following you, you can send Direct Messages (DMs) to them. Just put "DM @username" at the start of your tweet. These messages are private, and do not appear to your other followers.

If you and someone else are following each other (you follow someone and they follow you back, or they follow you and you follow them back) their name will appear in the drop down box at the top of the Direct Messages screen in Twitter's own web system.

Just like a private telephone line. But beware:

• Don't be too confidential in case the DM gets out into public domain. (In particular do you trust who you are sending to absolutely?)


• Like any form of communication, don't over use it, especially if you don't know them that well


• If you send a DM to someone who isn't following you, Twitter suggests you send a message "follow @username". But note this appears in your public timeline that all your followers see


• A follow request to someone who has blocked you won't reach them