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Direct Messaging (DMs)

TheMixTheMix Posts: 3,199 Boards Guru
in Community Announcements
We wanted to let you know that we’ve made the decision to turn off Direct Messages (DMs) on the Mix community.

This change is part of our commitment to prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all of our members as we are a service for young people. We regularly review our features to ensure they align with best practices and legal requirements.

With the introduction of the Online Safety Act (2023), online services are now regulated to ensure children are protected from online harm. This includes requirements such as age-limited content and the moderation of peer-to-peer communication, especially for children. The use of DMs has been removed to help ensure we meet these standards.

Importantly, recent changes to the Act in April 2025 mean that compliance with this guidance is no longer just best practice, but a legal requirement. As we understand it, enforcement processes could follow if we fail to comply.

We know how important it is to connect with others, and we want to reassure you that our core services including the discussion boards, group chats, and expert support remain available. These spaces are moderated and designed to give you the chance to talk, share, and support each other safely.

We always encourage everyone to stay safe online and you can check out our advice on online safety and our guidance on reporting and blocking on social media. If you're ever unsure about something or need help, you can also reach out to our community team by emailing community@themix.org.uk

Thank you for being part of this community and helping us keep it a safe, supportive space for all.
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Comments

  • toffuna101toffuna101 Posts: 2,274 Boards Champion
    i kind of saw this coming. not because of the online safety act but because of like how youre encouraged not to share your details with others.
  • eylaheylah Posts: 7,255 Master Poster
    this is ridiculous.
    ppl dont always need advice. sometimes all they rly need is a hand to hold. an ear to listen. and a heart to understand them. 🧸
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    So we can’t even DM the mix anymore either. How long has someone (not necessarily the community team but someone) known this was coming.. and why was it turned off before it was announced.
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • Rose113Rose113 Community Connector Posts: 3,328 Boards Guru
    So how are we meant to message the staff??? The mix has turned such a controlling place
    Sometimes when the people most like you don't love you, it is a hurt that can cause the greatest pain, and this pain can lead you to hate everything.
  • LozLoz Posts: 141 Helping Hand
    edited May 6
    Hey I just wanted to say I get it turning it off for children, if that what the law states. Or regulating who can message who. But many of us are adults. I didn't use DM's that often but it's concerning we cannot message the mix.
    "Broken people save broken people"
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    Right? Next it’ll be pre-approval for posts (this is not a positive suggestion btw)
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • RedemptionRedemption Posts: 3,950 Community Veteran
    edited May 6
    I had to check the date if it's not April 1st. It just suddenly happens like that. What is this?! I understand safety and all that but there's ways other than closing PMs altogether, probably best off to close off the whole community at this point, chats been barely on, poor treatment to people including mods etc and now this. I'm going a good long think if I might leave myself, it seems like that's the goal anyway, deliberately trying to push everyone out and its working so far. What a joke.
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    edited May 6
    Loz wrote: »
    Hey I just wanted to say I get it turning it off for children, if that what the law states. Or regulating who can message who. But many of us are adults. I didn't use DM's that often but it's concerning we cannot message the mix.

    Exactly. Is it because that function to limit who can DM who is unavailable? And it’s easier to turn them off for all rather than allow it for adults? It feels like an attack on our decision making skills tbh :joy:

    It’s all very well saying it’s to protect children, which is absolutely fair enough, but young people aren’t all children. I could go and be an MP if I wanted but I can’t send a DM?
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • LozLoz Posts: 141 Helping Hand
    I hate to say it but I miss the way the mix used to be. It feels like all these changes aren't for a positive cause but instead to limit the support. I had many useful chats in DM's that have helped me in the past.

    Idk where all these new legislations have come from but I definitely would like to see evidence of it stopping adults from messaging eachother
    "Broken people save broken people"
  • RedemptionRedemption Posts: 3,950 Community Veteran
    edited May 6
    Loz wrote: »
    Hey I just wanted to say I get it turning it off for children, if that what the law states. Or regulating who can message who. But many of us are adults. I didn't use DM's that often but it's concerning we cannot message the mix.

    Yh literally turn it off job sorted, it's not about safeguarding and that's obvious.
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    Loz wrote: »
    I hate to say it but I miss the way the mix used to be. It feels like all these changes aren't for a positive cause but instead to limit the support. I had many useful chats in DM's that have helped me in the past.

    Idk where all these new legislations have come from but I definitely would like to see evidence of it stopping adults from messaging eachother

    Seconded. I remember all those years ago when you first joined, and even back to when I first joined. It was like a family. Now it feels like i’m constantly on a 1-1 support platform with no way of contacting people or making friends. People will migrate over to places with far less protection because of this.
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • RedemptionRedemption Posts: 3,950 Community Veteran
    edited May 6
    🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 RIP The Mix
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    My old PMs have all disappeared too. I’ve had some lovely PMs and I liked to read them when I was having a bad day. Now all gone.
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • LozLoz Posts: 141 Helping Hand
    independent_ wrote: »
    Seconded. I remember all those years ago when you first joined, and even back to when I first joined. It was like a family. Now it feels like i’m constantly on a 1-1 support platform with no way of contacting people or making friends. People will migrate over to places with far less protection because of this.

    This. It was like a family that's what kept me here and as someone who's been here for 5ish years now I hate how restricted it's become. And as you said earlier people will start sharing their details in less safe ways.

    It doesn't feel welcoming at all anymore

    "Broken people save broken people"
  • Lili5BetLili5Bet Posts: 152 Helping Hand
    Is this just me, or am I seeing a pattern here? From what I remember, the mods were cut off from communicating with each other, and now this is happening to us? Like other members have said, I would really like to see the proof and what this legislation actually holds.
  • toffuna101toffuna101 Posts: 2,274 Boards Champion
    this is sad to see. reading all of these responses now makes me feel like the mix is not how it used to be. and i only joined in december of 2023.
  • eylaheylah Posts: 7,255 Master Poster
    im sry but this is absolute garbage. stopped mods from talking to each other but now us. seems like a prison more then a support community. this is going to make everyone leave bc your stopping us from being ‘human’.
    ppl dont always need advice. sometimes all they rly need is a hand to hold. an ear to listen. and a heart to understand them. 🧸
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    @Lili5Bet you are absolutely right in spotting the pattern. I’ve spotted it too. Mods can’t swap shifts anymore so chats run far far less as well.

    @toffuna101 it 100% is not what it was, even 6 months ago. The turning point was the closure of the hug thread. That was the start of all this. It makes me sad too, because like @Loz I’ve been here for a long time (9.5 years) and have never seen so much change, so many people leaving, and so much bad feeling in the entire time I have been here. I mean that.
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • LozLoz Posts: 141 Helping Hand
    Alot of these changes are happening without warning and very suddenly, which isn't fair at all to us as service users. There's no evidence provided to us or explanations of these new legislations. From what I can understand from the limited information, I can't understand why adults can't message eachother.
    "Broken people save broken people"
  • toffuna101toffuna101 Posts: 2,274 Boards Champion
    @independent_ oh yeah the closure of the hug thread. i was pretty sad when it closed. i think i wasnt on break at that time so i got to see it as it happened. but yeah this is just sad.
  • Lili5BetLili5Bet Posts: 152 Helping Hand
    edited May 6
    From what I’m aware of, the Online Safety Act (2023) legislation and the Ofcom April guidance, services must assess and manage risks of features like DM between users , but NOT a blanket requirement under the act between The Mix DM’s and service users. Although it may still be risk assessed, it wouldn’t be restricted or removed by Law, but from a safeguarding policy. That means it’s a choice by the platform, not a legal requirement.

    So I’m pretty confused from what’s been said in your announcement, and why the mix DM’s have been shut off between service users as well and saying it’s a legal requirement??
  • Invisible_meInvisible_me Posts: 355 Listening Ear
    Can we still message the staff directly, via the mix over dm
  • Lili5BetLili5Bet Posts: 152 Helping Hand
    Invisible_me wrote: »
    Can we still message the staff directly, via the mix over dm

    No, they’ve closed it sadly
  • eylaheylah Posts: 7,255 Master Poster
    Invisible_me wrote: »
    Can we still message the staff directly, via the mix over dm

    nope theyve shut it off for everyone!
    ppl dont always need advice. sometimes all they rly need is a hand to hold. an ear to listen. and a heart to understand them. 🧸
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    If this is a choice it's really bad and I want to hear directly from the person that made it. If it's not a strict legal requirement, why remove such a key part of this community?
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    Invisible_me wrote: »
    Can we still message the staff directly, via the mix over dm

    Doesn't look like it, no. You now have to email them.
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • toffuna101toffuna101 Posts: 2,274 Boards Champion
    independent_ wrote: »
    Invisible_me wrote: »
    Can we still message the staff directly, via the mix over dm

    Doesn't look like it, no. You now have to email them.

    @independent_ they dont even respond to my emails for some reason so im screwed.
  • independent_independent_ Community Connector Posts: 9,467 Supreme Poster
    i'm also stuck with unread DMS that I now cannot get rid of the icon for.
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
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