Direct Messages

Webify supports direct messages between users. In the early stage, users can start conversations without adding each other as friends first.

Direct messages are an important complement to Webify's social relationships. Communities handle public discussion, while direct messages handle one-to-one communication, resource matching, and partnership building.

Use Cases

Direct messages are suitable for:

• Communication between entrepreneurs.
• Project teams contacting contributors.
• Creators contacting readers.
• Experts providing consulting.
• Resource matching between community members.
• Advertisers contacting community Owners.
• Developers contacting ecosystem partners.

In Web3 communities, many high-value relationships do not happen in public posts. They happen in one-to-one conversations.

Early Rules

The early stage can use a lower threshold:

• Users can directly start DMs with other users.
• Users do not need to add each other as friends first.
• Users can be identified through wallets or Webify Profile.
• Basic message notifications are supported.

This lowers the barrier for users to build relationships.

Future Privacy Settings

As the user base grows, Webify needs to gradually provide more granular DM settings:

Setting	Description
Allow DMs from everyone	Open by default, but requires risk control
Only same-community members	Reduces stranger harassment
Only followers	Suitable for creators and KOLs
Only mutual followers	Stronger privacy protection
Only high-reputation users	Reduces spam
Only NFT or VIP users	Suitable for paid communities and expert services

These settings allow users to control message access based on their identity and risk preference.

Risk Control

Direct messages must have risk control.

Webify should provide:

• Blocking.
• Reporting.
• Message filtering.
• Stranger message requests.
• Rate limits.
• Link safety checks.
• Phishing link warnings.
• Restrictions for low-reputation accounts.
• Penalties for malicious accounts.

In Web3, direct messages are often used for scams, phishing, and spam promotion.

Relationship With Communities

Direct messages can naturally emerge from community relationships.

Examples:

• Users discuss in the same community and then move to DMs.
• Creators DM paid readers.
• VIP members contact experts.
• Project teams contact high-quality contributors.
• Community Owners contact advertisers.

Product Principles

Webify's DM design follows these principles:

• Low barrier to building relationships.
• Strong safety and risk control.
• User-controlled privacy.
• DM content is not publicly assetized.

The value of DMs is connecting people, but Webify must protect users from spam and security risks.