Control who can message you directly
Turn off new direct messages from other parents, block a specific person, and decide whether people see when you've read their messages.
Direct messages are opt-out-able, person by person or entirely. All the controls live in one place, and none of them can cut you off from the school itself.
Your messaging privacy settings
- Open Messages and tap the Display settings (gear) button at the top of your conversation list.
- Find Privacy & direct messages. Three switches:
- Allow new direct messages — turn it off and other parents can’t start new conversations with you. The school can still reach you.
- Send read receipts — whether people see when you’ve read their direct message. You’ll still see theirs.
- Appear offline — hides your online status. You still receive messages.
Turning off new direct messages simply removes you from other parents’ searches — nobody is told you opted out.
Block a specific person
Blocking is for one person, not the feature:
- Open the conversation and tap Conversation details (the ⋯ menu).
- Choose Block this person.
They can’t message you, and the thread is frozen for both of you until you unblock. The other person isn’t notified. Unblock from the same menu, or from the Blocked people list in your messaging settings.
Two limits, both deliberate: blocking applies to other parents only — school staff and admins can always reach you — and blocking someone doesn’t remove either of you from channels you share. Channels belong to the school; direct messages belong to you.
If someone is crossing a line
Blocking makes them go away for you; reporting brings in your school’s moderators. If a message is harassment rather than annoyance, report it before or instead of blocking — see Why a message was hidden. Reporting a direct message is also the one thing that lets moderators see it — see Understand direct message privacy.