Reddit has announced a significant change to its messaging system, integrating its DM inbox into the Reddit Chat feature.
For those unfamiliar with Reddit’s messaging setup, the platform currently has two separate systems. The Chat tab, introduced in 2023, allows users to participate in real-time group discussions on various topics. Meanwhile, the Inbox tab serves as a space for notifications and direct messages (DMs).
Now, Reddit is consolidating both into a single messaging tab. However, early previews still show both a “Chat” and an “Inbox” tab, so the exact implementation remains a bit unclear.
As Reddit explains: “Reddit Chat is replacing user PMs. This transition consolidates messaging on Reddit and introduces features like pinned chats for better organization, an unread filter, a new spam folder, more sender context when accepting invites, an allowlist, and a faster experience.”
While private messages (PMs) will transition into the new system, Reddit has confirmed that existing PMs will remain archived as read-only for reference.
Reddit Chat Feature
It’s uncertain what will happen to the Inbox tab, but Reddit has clarified that DMs won’t be disabled immediately, giving users time to access their archived messages.
According to Reddit, this move is intended to streamline its communication system:
“This consolidation helps us focus on improving one system instead of maintaining multiple. Plus, Reddit Chat’s infrastructure is built for the future, unlike the PM system which is about as old as Reddit itself.”
Despite Reddit’s claims, many users argue that ads are the real reason the platform has slowed down, not its messaging systems. Regardless, Reddit needs to generate revenue, and optimizing its infrastructure may contribute to better overall performance.
The new chat UI will begin rolling out soon, with changes being phased in over the next three months. This shift aims to bring all notifications and messages into a single system, while also introducing new filters to help users manage their inbox more effectively.
