What is a DM (direct message)?

DM works as a noun ("I sent you a DM") and as a verb ("DM me"). "Check your DMs" means look at your private messages. "My DMs are open" means anyone can message you. PM, short for private message, is the older word from web forums and means the same thing.

"Slide into someone's DMs" means sending a private message to start a conversation, often a flirty one, with someone you don't know well. In business it is used jokingly for cold outreach. "DM for price" is a caption that asks people to message for the cost instead of showing it in the post.

Checked on each platform's help centre on 14 October 2026. Menus move, so look for the same words nearby.

• Instagram: open Messages, tap or click Compose, choose the people, select Chat, type your message and send. You can also tap Message on a profile. If the person doesn't follow you, your message arrives as a message request and can only contain text until they accept it.
• Facebook: to message a business, search for its Page and select Send message below the cover photo (it only appears if the Page has messaging turned on). Between people, messages go through Messenger. Pages mostly reply to people who message first; Facebook is gradually letting some Pages send a few message requests a day.
• X: open Messages (the envelope icon in the apps), tap the new message icon, enter the name or @username, write your message and send. You can always message people who follow you; others only if their settings allow message requests.
• LinkedIn: select the Messaging icon, then Compose, type the person's name, write your message and select Send, or select Message on a connection's profile. To message someone you're not connected to, you need InMail, which requires a Premium account, or you can send a connection request first.
• TikTok: tap Inbox, then open an existing chat, or tap Message on the profile of someone you both follow. To message someone who doesn't follow you, you send a message request, and you can send only one until they accept. Direct messages on TikTok are only available to people aged 16 and over.

Treat every DM like a customer at your counter. A short, warm, fast reply beats a perfect one sent two days later.

• Reply as soon as you reasonably can, and say when you'll be back if you can't answer now.
• Answer the actual question first, then add a link or next step.
• Don't send unasked-for sales pitches to strangers. It feels like spam, and platforms limit message requests.
• Move card numbers, addresses or medical details to a safer channel. Never ask for passwords.
• Keep saved answers for common questions such as prices, opening hours and delivery areas.
• Don't add #dm as a hashtag on Instagram. It is on the banned-hashtag list our free checker flags.

"DM for price" can start conversations, but many shoppers find it frustrating and scroll on rather than ask. If your prices are fixed, show them or link to a price list. Keep "DM us" for things that need a conversation, such as custom orders, quotes or availability.

If the same questions arrive every day, set up automatic replies. Meta's Inbox automations in Meta Business Suite work for Facebook Pages, Instagram business accounts and WhatsApp Business accounts connected to it (Meta Business Help Centre, checked 14 October 2026). They include:

Keep automatic replies short and honest. Make it clear it's an automatic message, answer what you can, and say when a person will reply.

• Instant reply: a greeting when someone messages you for the first time
• Away message: a reply when you're not available
• Frequently asked questions: suggested questions people can tap, with your answers
• Location, contact information and hours: replies to messages asking for them
• Custom keywords (desktop only): an automatic reply to messages containing up to five keywords or phrases you choose. Keywords must match exactly, and the reply is sent after 15 minutes unless you answer first.
• Comment to message (desktop only): a reply to comments that contain specific hashtags

Comments are public and help everyone who reads them. DMs are private and suit anything personal. A simple rule: answer in public when the answer helps others, and move to private when it involves the person's details.

• Reply in the comments: opening hours, general prices, how a product works, thanks for praise
• Move to a DM: orders, bookings, custom quotes, and anything with an address, phone number or order number
• Do both for complaints: a short public reply saying you're sorting it out, then the details in private

A nail salon keeps a handful of saved replies for the messages it gets most. Each one answers the question first, then offers the next step.

Save replies like these as templates, then personalise the first line every time. People can tell when a message has been pasted, and a name and one specific detail make it feel like a person answered.

• Price: "Hi Sara, thanks for asking. The autumn set takes about 90 minutes and the price is on our menu here: [link]. Would Saturday at 11 or 2 suit you?"
• Availability: "We have Thursday at 4 or Saturday at 11. Which suits you? You can also book straight away here: [link]."
• Out of area: "Sorry, we can't visit outside the city yet. You're welcome to come to the salon, open 10 to 7 every day except Monday."
• Complaint: "I'm sorry about this. Could you send your booking date so I can sort it out today?"