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✉️  Messages

How do I send a message in Topia?

Keep reading to learn how to:

circleCheckOpen Chat

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Enable or Disable Chat Notifications

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Send a One-on-One Direct Message

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Send a Group Direct Message

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Send a Message in a Chat Channel

 

 

How Does Chat Work in Topia?

Topia has multiple types of text chat: 

These different types of chats will be session-based, zone-based, or user-based.

Session-based chats will only be visible while you are in the world. If you refresh or move to a different world, you will not see any previous chat messages. All Chat Channels are session-based.

Zone-based chats will only be available for you to use when you are in a specific part of the world. The Private Zone Channel is zone-based.

User-based chats are persistent and will follow you from one world to another. You can also access these chats from the SchoolSpace Dashboard. All One-on-One and Group Direct Messages are user-based.

 

 

How do I use Chat?

To Open Chat:
  1. Click Messages messages in the left sidebar
  2. This will open a drawer on the left side of your browser with a list of all the chat Channels available in the world. 
  3. If Direct Messages are available in the world, you’ll see a Direct Messages tab at the top of the drawer. Click this tab to open a list of all your Direct Messages.

    Chat Channels Direct Messages
    Chat Channels Direct Messages

     

Send Emojis!

All types of chat support emojis! 

To Send Emojis on Mac: To Send Emojis on Windows:
  1. In a chat message text field, press Control + Command + Space at the same time
  2. Use your mouse to click on the desired emoji, or type to search for an emoji
  3. Click the emoji to add it to your message
  1. In a chat message text field, press the Windows key and the period (.) or semicolon (;) key at the same time
  2. Use your mouse to click on the desired emoji, or type to search for an emoji
  3. Click the emoji to add it to your message

If you send a single emoji in a chat channel (like 'Everyone in World' or 'People Connected to Me') you’ll see the emoji appear above your avatar like an emote!

 

New Message Alerts

When you receive a new message, you’ll hear a notification ping and you’ll see a small red dot on the Messages messages icon. Inside the message drawer, Channels or Direct Messages with new or unread messages will also be marked with a small red dot. You’ll only hear the notification ping for the first new message in a channel or direct message. Any additional new messages will be delivered quietly.

To Enable or Disable Notifications:
  1. Click My Account at the top of the left sidebar
  2. Under Social Alerts:
    • Toggle On to receive notifications
    • Toggle Off to silence notification

 

 

One-on-One and Group Direct Messages

Direct messages allow you to send a message to one or more people. These messages are persistent, so if you leave the world you can keep the conversation going the next time you log in. Messages sent as one on one or group direct messages are not visible in the Chat Channels.

There are several ways you can send a Direct Message. You can send a message from:

  • Messages messages in the left sidebar. You can also send Group Direct Messages from here.
  • The Current Users list in Social Hub connections on the left sidebar
  • The video tile of a person you are connected with over audio and video
  • Another user’s profile
  • Your Friends list in Social Hub connections on the left sidebar

Direct Messages (DMs) can be turned off by Managers of the world. If you don’t see this feature, it may have been disabled.

 

Sending One-on-One Direct Messages

From Messages:
  1. Click Messages messages in the left sidebar. This will open a drawer on the left side of your browser.
  2. Click the Direct Messages tab at the top of the drawer
  3. Click the Plus plus sign
  4. Find your friend by typing their name into the filter Filter Results field or scroll to find them on the list
  5. Click on their name to open a Direct Message chat. 
  6. Type your message in the chat and press Enter or click the Send send icon to send your message!
  1. When you are connected to their video, hover over the middle of their video screen and click on the Message button that appears on the left
  2. A conversation will open in the Messages drawer on the left side of the screen
  3. Enter your message and click Send (or hit enter on your keyboard)

 

From the Current Users list:
  1. Click Social Hub connections in the left sidebar. This will open a drawer on the left side of your browser.
  2. Find the person you want to message in the Current Users list. You can scroll or search for them by name in filter Filter Results.
  3. Click the Message messages icon under their name.
  4. Type your message in the chat and press Enter or click the Send send icon to send your message!

 

From Someone’s Video Tile:
  1. Walk close to the person so you are connected over video chat.
  2. Click their name on their video tile.
  3. Click messages Send Message to open a Direct Message chat
  4. Type your message in the chat and press Enter or click the Send send icon to send your message!

 

From Someone’s Profile:
  1. Open the person’s profile from any of the following locations:
    • On their video tile, click their name → profile View Profile
    • The Current Users list in Social Hub connections, click their name → profile View Profile
    • Your Friends list in Social Hub connections , click their name → profile View Profile
  2. Click Send Message to open a Direct Message chat
  3. Type your message in the chat and press Enter or click the Send send icon to send your message!

 

From your Friends list:
  1. Click Social Hub connections in the left sidebar → Friends
  2. Find your friend by typing their name in filter Filter Results or scroll to find them on the list
  3. Click their name → messages Send Message to open a Direct Message chat
  4. Type your message in the chat and press Enter or click the Send send icon to send your message!

 

To Hide a Direct Message:
  1. Click Messages messages in the left sidebar. This will open a drawer on the left side of your browser.
  2. Click the Direct Messages tab at the top of the drawer
  3. Scroll or search for the Direct Message and click to select
  4. At the top of the chat, click the three dot menu ellipsis button → preview Off Hide Chat

You can use preview Off Hide Chat to clean up your Direct Messages view. Hiding a Direct Message will only remove it from your view. If you or the chat member(s) send another message, it will reappear for you. 

 

Sending Group Direct Messages

From Messages:
  1. Click Messages messages in the left sidebar. This will open a drawer on the left side of your browser.
  2. Click the Direct Messages tab at the top of the drawer
  3. Click the Plus plus sign
  4. Click messageGroup New Group
  5. Find your friends by typing their name in filter Filter Results and clicking to add them to the group
  6. Type your message in the chat and press enter or click the Send send icon to send your message!

 

To Add Someone to an Existing Group Direct Message:
  1. Click Messages messages in the left sidebar. This will open a drawer on the left side of your browser.
  2. Click the Direct Messages tab at the top of the drawer
  3. Scroll or search in filter Filter Results and click to select
  4. At the top of the chat, click the menu ellipsis button → plus Add Participants
  5. Scroll or search for the person you want to add
  6. Click their name → Click Add to Group

 

To Remove Someone from a Group Direct Message:
  1. Click Messages messages in the left sidebar. This will open a drawer on the left side of your browser.
  2. Click the Direct Messages tab at the top of the drawer
  3. Scroll or search in filter Filter Results and click to select
  4. At the top of the chat, click the menu ellipsis button → info Group Details
  5. Click the Remove remove button next to the person’s name to remove them from the group message.

 

To Close a Group Message:
  1. Click Messages messages in the left sidebar. This will open a drawer on the left side of your browser.
  2. Click the Direct Messages tab at the top of the drawer
  3. Scroll or search in filter Filter Results and click to select
  4. At the top of the chat, click the menu ellipsis button → leaveWorld Exit and Close Group
  5. A popup will appear asking you to confirm closing the group. Click Exit and Close Group to close or Cancel if you want to keep the chat going.

 

 

Chat Channels in Topia

Chat Channels help you connect with the right people in the best way. There are several Chat Channels in Topia:

Depending on the world settings, you might see some or all of these chat channels.

Managers can disable or enable all Chat Channels with the exception of Moderators in World.

 

To Send a Message in a Chat Channel:
  1. Click the Messages messages icon in the left sidebar.
  2. Click the chat channel you want to use (e.g. Everyone in the World).
  3. Type your message and press Enter or click Send send

 

Everyone in World

This chat is open to everyone currently in the world. It’s session-based, which means the messages are only seen by the people who are currently in the world and disappear when you leave the world or refresh the page.

Great for:

  • Group announcements
  • Starting a large conversation with anyone in the world
  • Sharing a poll or survey

 

People Connected to Me

This channel only includes users you're actively connected to via audio and video. The people you can message will change as you move around the world and connect to different people. All messages will disappear from your view when you leave or refresh the world.

Great for:

  • Quick text chat with people near you
  • Coordinating with a small group during an activity

If you walk away from people you were connected to and messaging with, you will still see messages you’ve previously sent or received in this channel.

 

Private Zone

When you're in a private zone (like a small group room or club space), you may see a chat just for that area. This channel is session-based so messages stay only as long as you’re in the world. It is also zone-based so the channel is specific to each individual private zone. Meaning you will only be able to send messages to this channel when you are in a private zone and you will not receive messages if you have left a private zone. 

Great for:

  • Private small group conversations
  • Club or group-specific messages

You will still see messages you have previously sent or received in the Private Zone channel if you are no longer in a Private Zone. If you have entered a different Private Zone, you will also see messages you have previously sent or received in other Private Zones.

 

Moderators in World

If you're a world moderator, you’ll have access to a chat just for moderators. This is session-based and only visible to active moderators in the world.

Great for:

  • Behind-the-scenes coordination
  • Supporting students quietly

Moderators in World cannot be removed from the chat channel options.