"Online speak" can be classified as its own separate dialect. There are countless abbreviations with various meanings, and they're all ever-expanding, ever-changing. DM is among the most commonly used ones: DM me, slide into your DMs, random DMs, and so on.

It's more than likely you've come across these phrases while browsing social media. But if you've been too afraid to ask "What does DM mean?", don't worry, we've got you covered.

DM Meaning: What Is a DM?

So what does DM mean? In most instances when people ask you to DM them, they're referring to a "Direct Message".

A direct message is a private communication between social media users and is sometimes referred to as a private message or PM. When you send a direct message, only you and the recipient can see the content.

So, a DM is a message sent to a private, user-specific inbox on a social media platform, rather than a post to their public timeline, posts, or page.

"Slide Into DMs" Meaning

The term “slide into your DMs” refers to direct messaging in which a random user or online acquaintance sends an unexpected private message on a social media platform in an attempt to get your attention.

These messages generally come from someone who wishes to initiate a conversation with you because they found something appealing about your profile. Sliding into someone's DMs is essentially making the first move, most typically in the online dating world. It's much like sending a drink to someone from across the room to get their attention.

Technically, you could innocently slide into someone's DMs for non-romantic reasons. But the phrase often has flirtatious connotations.

What Platforms Can You Send DMs On?

Most social platforms offer DM functionality, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Twitter.

The requirements to use DM features for each platform vary. Some require a valid phone number, while others want to verify that you are over a certain age or that you follow or are connected with the message recipient.

Most platforms have limits on the number of direct messages you can send in a day to prevent spam.

Who Can You DM on Social Media?

As stated, most platforms impose certain restrictions when it comes to DMs. Apart from having a daily limit set on DMs you can send out, most platforms also have specific rules for messages you can receive.

On Twitter, you can message anyone who has their DMs open. On TikTok, you can only message people you follow. Let's take Instagram, for example. If you direct message someone on Instagram who doesn't follow you, your DM shows up a request in their inbox—that's where spam usually ends up. It's separate from their main DM inbox, and they have to accept the request for the DM to move from the Message Request section to their Messages. You can turn off Message Requests on Instagram.

Many platforms allow the option to only receive direct messages from accounts you follow. And on most social media platforms, you can restrict or block DMs. A simple way is to make your account private because then, in most cases, the DMs you receive will show up as requests rather than go straight to your inbox. It's very simple to switch your Instagram account to private, as is to make your Twitter account private, too.

Also, if you find an account you wish to avoid getting DMs from, you can block it, and that'll do the trick.

DMs: What You Need to Know

When sending DMs, take care not to send inappropriate things—that can get you blocked or even kicked off of a platform. It's also not uncommon for people today to screenshot the inappropriate DM and share it on various platforms online, so the block can prove to be the least of your concerns.

Also, try to avoid copy-pasting the same message to multiple people. You might think they wouldn't catch the fact it's a mass-send, but you can usually tell. So, when DMing people, try to keep it personal.

Then, once you DM someone, don't badger them non-stop for a reply. Give them time to go through their DMs and see yours and figure out if they want to message you and how. People are often busy, so don't assume they're outright ignoring you.

Lastly, if you come across someone that has listed "no DMs" on their social media profile, respect that. And, concurrently, if you see "DMs open", feel free to chat. Don't be pushy and don't be overly eager.

Alternative Meanings of DM

Although most times someone refers to the abbreviation DM they mean Direct Message, DM can have alternate meanings.

DM can mean "Doesn't Matter"—this is a polite way of saying you don't care about an event or outcome and is most often seen in texts. DM can also mean “Don’t Mind”, indicating that the sender doesn’t have a strong opinion on a subject. Again, this use is most commonly seen in texts.

For those familiar with tabletop gaming, you may also know that DM can refer to a Dungeon Master in the game Dungeon & Dragons. And, if you are familiar with D&D and this side of DM, you can look to ChatGPT for your next game session—it makes for a grand DM assistant.

Understand the Meaning of DMs

As the world moves more online, meeting someone on a social platform is becoming more likely.

If you are considering sliding into someone’s DMs, remember to keep it short and flirty. But most importantly keep it clean. And if someone's profile says "no DMs", respect their boundaries.