Direct Messages in U-M Slack Enterprise Grid

Environment

U-M Slack

Issue

How do direct messages (DMs) work in U-M Slack Enterprise Grid?

Resolution

Direct messages (DMs) are smaller conversations in Slack that occur outside of channels. They can be one-to-one or include up to nine people. DMs work well for one-off conversations that don’t require an entire channel.

In an Enterprise Grid environment like U-M Slack, direct messages are not workspace-specific which means all of your DMs with individuals in U-M Slack will be accessible from any U-M Slack workspace. This is not a functionality that can be changed or turned off.

For example, say you and your colleague, John Doe, are both members of Workspace A where you begin to direct message one another. Although you started that interaction in Workspace A, you will also access and use that same direct message in Workspace B even if John Doe is not in Workspace B.

You can find another UM-specific example below. brian, Maggie, Drew, and Rob are all members of the Maize & Blue workspace in U-M Slack. However, they are not members of the School of Information workspace (even though your direct messages with them are also accessible from that U-M Slack workspace, too).

Left side: DMs in UMSI Slack workspace, Middle: double-sided arrow icon, Right side: DMs in Maize and Blue Slack workspace depict they are the same

Additional Information

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Details

Article ID: 7259
Created
Mon 2/21/22 4:01 PM
Modified
Tue 2/22/22 6:10 PM