The Twitter team announced that it is launching the first phase of its initiative to add security with “encrypted direct messages.”
However, not all users will be able to take advantage of this new function, since there are a series of requirements to take into account. We tell you the details.
Limits and requirements of encrypted Twitter DMs
As expected, the ability to have encrypted DMs will only be available to verified users. So it will be part of the benefits of Twitter Blue subscribers, and those who are members of a verified organization.
However, we cannot rule out that Twitter may eventually decide to extend encrypted direct messages to all users. For now, one of the requirements for this encryption system to work is that both accounts are verified.
On the other hand, it is essential that both users have their Twitter apps updated, be it iOS or Android. And finally, for one user to be able to send an encrypted direct message to another, there needs to be some kind of prior interaction between the two, or for the recipient to follow their account.
As you will see, Twitter only allows you to send encrypted DMs to a single recipient, and it is not possible to apply it in a group conversation. This will be temporary as they hope to expand it to group conversations shortly.
How to send an encrypted DM on Twitter
The way to send an encrypted message does not change anything in relation to normal messages. However, you will only be able to include text and links, since you will not be able to send any type of multimedia content.
And when sending the message, you must activate the encryption from a new switch with the icon of a lock. So you can send an encrypted DM from a new conversation, choosing your contact, composing the message and turning on encryption to send it.
Or you can send an encrypted DM from an already started and unencrypted conversation. In that case, you just have to click on the “Information” icon and choose the “Start an encrypted message” option. Of course, always taking into account the requirements that we mentioned before.
How to differentiate encrypted Twitter DMs
All direct messages will continue to be available in the inbox. However, encrypted messages will appear as separate conversations.
Twitter makes it very easy to tell them apart by adding the lock icon to the contact’s avatar, both in the conversation preview and in the inbox. So with a simple glance you will be able to know which direct messages are encrypted, without having to complicate yourself too much.
