How to Use Direct Messages

1. Select the chat bubble icon in the header to open the My Chats (Beta) panel.
2. Choose an existing conversation from the list or open a user profile and press Chat to send a chat request.
3. Pending chats appear with status badges�use Accept or Decline to respond when someone pings you.
4. Type your message in the composer; press Send or hit Enter to deliver it. Messages stream in real time when both users are online.
5. Mark a conversation as read by opening it; badges on the chat icon clear automatically.
6. Use Ping in empty threads to nudge someone who hasn�t responded yet.

Tips

• The beta chat experience currently requires both sides to accept before messages flow.
• Block a conversation from the overflow menu if you no longer want to hear from a user.
• Keep sensitive data out of chat�use club posts for anything that needs a permanent record.