Q: How do I send a message to an artist?
A: Go to the artist’s profile or store page and use the message button to start a DM. Messages are found at /messages.
Q: What types of conversations are there?
A: Four types: DMs (direct messages), Order threads (tied to a commission), System messages (platform notifications), and Staff threads (for staff communications).
Q: Are my messages private?
A: Messages are private between participants. Platform staff can access messages only when necessary for moderation — reviewing a report or investigating a dispute.
Q: Can I block someone?
A: Yes. You can block a user from within a conversation. Note that the current block is per-conversation. Platform-wide blocking tools are planned for a future update.
Q: Can I report a message?
A: Yes. There’s a report option on individual messages. Moderators and Admins can review reported messages and take action including deletion.
Q: Is there a way to see if someone has read my message?
A: Yes. The messaging system includes read receipts.
Q: Can I mute a conversation?
A: Yes. Muted conversations won’t generate notifications.
Q: Is messaging real-time?
A: Yes. Messages are delivered in real-time via Socket.io. You don’t need to refresh the page to see new messages when both parties are online.
Q: Can I send images or files through messages?
A: Direct messages support text. File and image sharing within commissions is done through the order comment thread. Contact support@fursonasfactory.com if you need to share files outside of an order context.
Q: How do I know if I have unread messages?
A: The Masthead (top navigation bar) shows a real-time unread message count badge. On mobile, the bottom navigation bar also indicates unread messages.
Q: Can I delete a message I sent?
A: Message deletion for regular users is limited. Moderators and Admins can delete messages that violate platform rules. If you sent something in error, contact support@fursonasfactory.com.
Q: Can a moderator read my private messages?
A: Staff can access messages only when necessary for moderation — for example, when investigating a report or dispute. All staff actions are logged in an audit trail.
Q: What is a System message?
A: System messages are automated notifications from the platform — order status changes, dispute updates, or policy communications. They appear in your messages inbox as a separate conversation type.
Q: Can I start a group conversation?
A: Group conversations are not currently supported. Messaging is one-to-one or within an order thread between the two commission parties.
Q: What happens to my messages if an account I’m messaging with is banned?
A: Existing conversation threads remain in your messages inbox for your records. You won’t be able to send further messages to a terminated account.
Q: Can staff send me a direct message?
A: Yes. Staff can send messages through Staff conversation threads — a separate conversation type from regular DMs.
Q: Is there a message character limit?
A: Individual messages have a character limit. If you need to communicate something lengthy, consider breaking it into multiple messages.
Q: What happens to my messages if I delete my account?
A: Your messages are retained for the duration of your account and may be kept longer if flagged or under active review, per our Privacy Policy.
Q: Can I search my message history?
A: Message search is not currently a built-in feature. You can scroll through conversation history within each thread. This may be added in future updates.
Q: Is there a way to mark all messages as read?
A: Opening a conversation marks its messages as read. A bulk mark-all-as-read feature may be added in future updates.
Q: Can I attach a file to a DM?
A: Direct messages currently support text. File sharing is available through the order comment thread during active commissions. If you need to share a reference before placing an order, link to an external file host in your message.
Q: Does FursonasFactory have read receipts? Can I turn them off?
A: Yes, read receipts are enabled. A toggle to disable them may be added in future updates — it’s a common quality-of-life request. For now, all messages show when they’ve been read.
Q: How do I find a specific old message?
A: In-thread search is not currently available. Scroll through the conversation history manually. Improved message search is planned for a future update.
Q: Can I pin an important message in a conversation?
A: Message pinning is not currently a feature. If you need to reference important details from a conversation, copy them into a note or include them in the order comment thread where they’ll be logged.
Q: What is the difference between a muted and a blocked conversation?
A: Muting silences notifications from a conversation — you still receive messages but won’t be notified. Blocking (per-conversation currently) prevents the other party from messaging you further.
Q: Can staff see who read a message?
A: Staff can view conversation records for moderation purposes. Read receipts are part of the message metadata that staff can access during an investigation.
Q: Can I start a conversation with a buyer who hasn’t commissioned me yet?
A: Yes. Messaging is open to all users — you can initiate a conversation with any user on the platform (subject to block status). Cold outreach to potential buyers about your services is allowed within reason; spam messaging is a Code of Conduct violation.
Q: What happens to my DMs if I change my username?
A: Your existing conversations remain intact. Message threads are tied to your account ID, not your username, so a username change doesn’t break existing conversations.
Q: How do I know if a conversation is with a staff member vs a regular user?
A: Staff conversations use a dedicated conversation type (Staff threads) and appear with a staff indicator. If someone claiming to be staff contacts you through a regular DM, verify their account type in the User Directory.
Q: Is there a way to export my message history?
A: A message export feature is not currently available. You can request your data including messages from support@fursonasfactory.com as part of a GDPR/CCPA data export request.