If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Direct Messaging (DMs)

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.
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
Please quote the exact part of this law that means you have to knock the DMs off when I can still DM on facebook, reddit and discord?
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
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?
Idk where all these new legislations have come from but I definitely would like to see evidence of it stopping adults from messaging eachother
Yh literally turn it off job sorted, it's not about safeguarding and that's obvious.
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
@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.
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??
No, they’ve closed it sadly
nope theyve shut it off for everyone!
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.