Starting today, Strava users will be able to privately message other users within the app. Initially, you'll be able to send both direct and group messages.
This feature is intended to be used as a way to motivate friends and coordinate group activities on the platform. I was able to get a sneak peek at this feature in advance, and it's similar to how DMs work on other social media. This makes sense, since Strava is both an exercise tracking app and a fitness social media platform. You could send a DM to a friend who was the same reviewer, and you could share the custom routes you created with each other. By long-pressing a message, you can add a message that responds with Strava's signature laurel wreath, in addition to the common thumbs up, heart, laughter, sadness, and fire emoji. You can send GIFs just like you do in Slack by typing the /giphy command.
It will be interesting to see how Strava users embrace messaging. No matter what platform you add your message to, you run the risk of harassers and weirdos finding their way into your DMs. Instagram, TikTok, and other social media can often end up becoming pseudo-dating sites, and it's hard to imagine that an athlete with similar interests could similarly turn to Strava. is not unrealistic. Thankfully, Strava has some privacy features.
You can limit messages to followers, mutual users, or “everyone.” The last option means that no one can message you first, but you can start a conversation with others. These settings also affect who you can invite to group chats. This is set automatically based on your profile visibility settings, but you can adjust your individual message preferences in Settings.
That's all there is to know about Strava Messaging for now. However, Strava has announced that in early 2024 it will add features such as photo uploads, the ability to share posts and events from Strava clubs, and messaging about specific topics within clubs.
