If you aren't one to live online, you may not be familiar with the internet-associated colloquialism of "sliding into the DMs."
Casual internet users, however, should probably acquaint themselves with the meaning of "DM," and unless you're the designated Dungeon Master among "Dungeons and Dragons" players, DM as it applies to you most likely stands for "direct message."
Here's a rundown of where you'll see the "DM" abbreviation, what some of the other terms are for it, and how to use it in everyday scenarios.
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What does DM mean?
A DM, or direct message, is shorthand for any type of communication on an online, social platform in which a message is sent privately from one user to another user.
Consequently, another term you may hear as a substitute for DM is a PM, which stands for private message. PMs originated on Facebook Messenger but are now interchangeable with DMs.
The DM term originates from Twitter, but the abbreviation is associated with a host of platforms these days, including Instagram.
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DMs are also known as 'Whispers'
On the popular streaming platform Twitch, the platform's terminology for when you privately message another user is called "Whispers."
But regardless, the catchy DM phrase is ubiquitous, so you'll see the abbreviation all over Twitch chats — i.e., you're more likely to see content creators request a user to "send me a DM" rather than "send me a Whisper."
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Ways you might use or encounter the term DM
One way you might indicate to the world that you're available and willing to receive and read direct messages from unknown people is by announcing your "DMs are open" — a tactic you'll see used by journalists on Twitter looking for scoops.
DM is also a term popular in apps like Discord and Slack, where group-wide conversing is the general appeal. You might request of a person or a small group of people, "DM me instead" or "privately message me," whenever you want to share side chatter that's either privileged or less pertinent to the larger group. DMs are common ways of interacting one-to-one in work settings, and in larger threads and channels.
Just be careful how you use the aforementioned "sliding into the DMs" phrase — it's a cheeky way to use DM that refers to soliciting someone's attention with a message, typically in a flirtatious way. If done tastefully, the gesture can be appreciated; however, there's a fine line between bold and disrespectful.
Emma Witman is an Asheville, NC-based freelance journalist with a keen interest in writing about hardware, PC gaming, politics, and personal finance. She is a former crime reporter for a daily newspaper, and has also written extensively about bartending for Insider. She may or may not judge your drink order when behind the bar. Follow her on Twitter at @emwity.
