An X (formerly Twitter) direct message (DM) is a private message sent to one or more specific X users. Generally, you can only send DMs to people who follow you on X.

You might send a DM if you want to connect with someone one-on-one but don't know their email address or how to reach them otherwise, or if you know they spend a lot of time on X and are more likely to see a post there than anywhere else. You would use a DM instead of a tweet if the communication isn't appropriate for public use (like setting up a business meeting). Some X users like to send a DM to every new follower with a welcome message.

Another use for DMs is to share tweets that you might not want to post to your timeline with a retweet. You can use DMs to share tweets with up to 20 other accounts, individually or in a group. To do this, tap the Share icon below a tweet and select Send via Direct Message.

An X DM is not the same as a tweet; therefore, it does not appear in a public timeline that anyone can see. It only appears on the DM sender's and recipient's private message pages. In other words, DMs are analogous to the private messages that Facebook users exchange. DMs are threaded, so you can see your back-and-forth dialogue with someone through X's DM system.