How to Use and Activate TikTok's Direct Messages

Like many other social networking sites, TikTok has a function called direct messaging that lets you talk to your friends directly on the app. You may learn how to send a direct message on the platform by following this wikiHow. Messages can only be sent to friends.

What can you send in a TikTok DM?

You can send your friends messages, gifs, stickers, and TikTok movies via the direct messaging tool on TikTok. Photos and other media that are not hosted on the TikTok platform cannot be sent. You can only DM people you are friends with for security reasons.

1. Enabling DMs

How to Use and Activate TikTok's Direct Messages

Step 1: Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This will show you your profile page.

Step 2: Tap on the triple dots in the top right corner. This will open your settings.

Step 3: Tap on Privacy and Safety.

Step 4: Tap on Who Can Send Me Messages.

Step 5: Ensure that Friends is selected. You cannot send messages to people unless they are following you back.

2. Finding Friends

Step 1: Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This will show you your profile page.

Step 2: Tap on the person in the upper left corner. This will bring up a page of people you may know.

Step 3: Tap on Follow. This will follow (or request to follow) your friend's account.

Step 4: Wait for a follow-back. In order to send a message, they need to be following you. Once they follow you, you will be able to message them.

3. Sending and Receiving

Step 1: Tap on your notifications page. This icon has a speech bubble.

Step 2:Tap on the direct message icon. This icon looks like an office tray.

Step 3: Tap on the friend to message. An automated message will read "I am [Display name], glad to be your friend".

If you deleted the chat, then tap on the +, then enter the username of the friend to message, then select it.
You can also send messages to your friend by tapping on Message on their profile page.

Step 4: Tap on the message box at the bottom. This will allow you to type a message.

You can also send GIFs courtesy of GIPHY and custom emoji. Tap on the smile button to access them.

Step 5: Tap on Send. This will send the message to your friend.

4. Knowing the Limitations

Step 1: Note that you cannot send messages to non-friends. For everyone's protection, DMs can only be sent to friends.

Step 2: Know that messages you send cannot be deleted. Sent messages are saved in the phone's memory and are protected with end-to-end encryption. You cannot unsend a message, so be careful what you send.

Deleting a message or conversation only deletes it from your phone's memory and does not delete it for your friend.

Step 3: Remember that only media on the TikTok platform can be sent. You can only send links to TikTok videos, TikTok live streams, TikTok audios, TikTok hashtags, and TikTok accounts. No other content can be sent.