@Mentions

Tag and notify other members in channels and direct messages

What are @Mentions?

@Mentions allow you to tag specific members in channels and direct messages. Mentions create clickable links to the mentioned person's profile.

How mentions work:

In channels: The mentioned person receives a notification and can jump to the message
In direct messages: Shows a profile preview when clicked (no notification sent)

Note: @Mentions are not available in community spaces at this time.

How to Mention Someone

Using the @ Symbol

Mentioning someone is simple:

In any text editor (posts, comments, messages), type @
Start typing the person's name or username
An autocomplete dropdown appears with matching members
Click on the person you want to mention, or use arrow keys and press Enter
The mention is inserted as a highlighted link

Autocomplete Suggestions

As you type after the @ symbol:

A list of matching members appears below
Shows names, usernames, and avatars for easy identification
Results filter as you type more characters
Usually limited to members of your current account

Where You Can Use Mentions

@Mentions are available in:

Channels (Group Chat)

In channel messages
Perfect for getting someone's attention in a group conversation

Direct Messages

In one-on-one conversations
Shows profile preview when clicked
Note: Does not send a notification (since you're already in a direct conversation)

How Mentions Appear

Visual Styling

Mentions are visually distinct:

Highlighted or colored text (often blue or the platform's primary color)
Clickable links
May have special formatting like @username

Clickable Links

When anyone clicks on a mention:

A profile modal opens showing the mentioned person's information
Or they're navigated to the person's full profile page
This makes it easy to learn more about who was mentioned

Notifications

What Happens When You Mention Someone

When you mention a member in a channel:

They receive an instant notification
The notification includes context (what you said and where)
They can click the notification to jump directly to your message
This ensures they see your message even in busy channels

In direct messages: Mentions do not send notifications since you're already in a direct conversation. They only provide a clickable profile preview.

Mention Etiquette

Use mentions thoughtfully:

Only mention people when you truly need their attention
Don't mention multiple people unnecessarily
Be respectful - mentions send notifications
Consider if a direct message might be more appropriate

Learn more about Notifications

The TipTap Integration

Rich Text Editor

Mentions are powered by the TipTap rich text editor:

Seamlessly integrated into the typing experience
Autocomplete appears automatically when you type @
Mentions are stored as structured data, not just text
This ensures they always link correctly to profiles

Editing Mentions

You can edit text around mentions:

Use backspace to remove a mention entirely
You can't edit the mention itself - delete and re-mention if needed
Mentions maintain their links even when you edit surrounding text

Best Practices

When to Use Mentions

To ask a specific person a question in a group conversation
To give credit to someone for their idea or contribution
To ensure someone sees important information
To bring relevant people into a discussion
To reference what someone else said

When NOT to Use Mentions

Don't mention someone in every message - use sparingly
Avoid mentioning people who aren't relevant to the discussion
Don't use mentions as a replacement for direct messages for private topics
Avoid mass mentioning multiple people unless truly necessary

Communication Tips

Mention the person at the beginning of your message for clarity
Provide context so they understand why you're mentioning them
Be specific about what you need from them (question, feedback, etc.)
Thank people when they respond to your mentions

Mentions vs. Direct Messages

Wondering when to use mentions versus sending a direct message?

Use @Mentions When:

The conversation is already public (in a channel or space)
Others might benefit from seeing the exchange
You're giving public credit or recognition
The topic is relevant to the broader conversation

Use Direct Messages When:

The topic is private or sensitive
You need to have a longer one-on-one conversation
The subject isn't relevant to others in the channel/space
You want to avoid interrupting the public conversation

Learn more about Direct Messaging

Technical Details

Mention Limits

The platform may have limits on mentions:

Maximum mentions per message (typically 5-10)
Rate limiting to prevent spam
Only members of your current account can be mentioned

Mention Storage

Mentions are stored as structured data:

Even if someone changes their username, old mentions still link correctly
If someone's account is deleted, mentions may show as inactive
Mentions are searchable in some contexts

Troubleshooting

Autocomplete Not Appearing?

Try these steps:

Make sure you typed the @ symbol
Wait a moment for the list to load
Check your internet connection
Try typing more characters of the person's name
Refresh the page if problems persist

Can't Find Someone in the Autocomplete?

Verify they're a member of your current account
Check you're spelling their name or username correctly
They may have changed their username
Their account may have been deactivated

Mention Not Creating a Link?

Make sure you selected the person from the autocomplete dropdown
Just typing @username manually won't create a link
You must use the autocomplete feature for proper mentions

Person Not Getting Notified?

Check that the mention appears as a clickable link
Make sure they haven't disabled notifications
Notifications may be delayed slightly
They may have already seen and cleared the notification

Mobile Experience

Mentions on Mobile Devices

@Mentions work great on mobile:

Type @ to trigger autocomplete
Tap a person in the list to mention them
Mentions remain clickable on mobile
Profile modals work with touch