no need for @
Please don't @mention people when you're already in a DM with them.
Imagine tapping someone on the shoulder, then when they turn around... you tap them again. 🤦
❌ Don't do this
✅ Instead, just say it
Why does it matter?
- It's redundant. A DM is already a direct notification to that person. The @ adds nothing.
- It's noisy. On many platforms, @mentions trigger extra-aggressive notifications — banners, sounds, badge counts — on top of the DM notification they already got.
- It looks weird. You wouldn't say someone's name before every sentence in a face-to-face conversation. Same energy.
- It breaks flow. Some platforms bold or highlight @mentions, making the message harder to scan naturally.
When @ is appropriate
- In group chats or channels — to direct a message at a specific person.
- In threads — to pull someone into a conversation they haven't seen.
- In public forums — where context about who you're addressing is needed.
Basically: if there's more than two people in the conversation, @ away. But in a 1-on-1 DM? They know you're talking to them.
This isn't a big deal — it's a small habit. But small habits shape how smoothly we communicate. Just drop the @. They'll still see your message. Promise. 💬
Please don't get mad at whoever sent you this link. They're just trying to keep DMs clean. Based on the spirit of nohello.net.