If you’re a regular user of social media, then you will know that there are countless acronyms and abbreviations that you need to familiarise yourself with if you want to use the app seamlessly.
PM and DM both mean the same thing on Facebook, and are also used interchangeably across Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms.
While DM means Direct Message, PM means Private Message – with both referring to the same thing.
With that said, how do you send a PM (or DM) on Facebook?
Sending a Pm From the Messenger App
Private messages on Facebook are sent via the Messenger app. On a desktop device or in a web browser, this appears in the same window with a pop up in the bottom right hand corner – while if you’re using a smartphone or portable device, accessing Messenger now requires a separate app.
Once you’re in the app or Messenger window, you can click on an existing conversation to open it and send a new message, or search for a specific user via the search bar at the top.
NOTE: Once a user has seen your message, a small version of their profile picture will appear next to the last message sent. If they are online at the time of sending, their profile picture will have a small green circle next to it.
Sending a Pm From a User’s Profile
If you come across a user profile and want to send a private message quickly, there is a way of doing so without closing Facebook and opening the Messenger app.
Simply tap on the blue ‘Message’ button underneath their profile picture. This will open your existing chat with them as a pop up or will open a new chat box if you’ve never spoken before.
NOTE: If you start a private message stream with a user who you aren’t friends with on Facebook, the chances are that your message will go in their Message Requests folder. Most users are not notified of these, and so you may need to send them a message via another platform to ensure that they see it.
And there you have it! Two different ways of sending a Private Message (PM) as well as a quick lesson on deciphering two of social media’s most used acronyms.
