Twitter enables option to receive direct messages from anyone

In the latest update from the Twitter universe, you can now opt to receive direct messages from other users on the social networking site, even if you are not following them.

Earlier, in order to receive a direct message from another Twitter user, you had to follow that person.

For some public figures and journalists, the restriction made it difficult to communicate with other users more privately. Twitter first experimented with this setting in 2013 with a select user base and was not made public.

Now, however, any Twitter user can turn this option on for them, if they choose.

Following the change, the company is also updating its messaging rules so that one can reply to incoming direct messages regardless of whether that person follows them in return.

In order to highlight the newly-added option, Twitter says that a new ‘Direct Message’ button will appear on profile pages for both Android and iPhone users.

Finally, if someone who has the “Receive Direct Messages from anyone setting” switched on begins to receive spam or abuse, they can still block the abuser on Twitter in order to stop that account from being able to DM them.

The updates come at a time when private communication apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp are significantly growing their respective user bases and increasing their users’ engagement.