Message, Chatter
Message in Chatter is the direct messaging feature inside Chatter that lets users send private one-on-one or small-group messages outside the public feed.
Definition
Message in Chatter is the direct messaging feature inside Chatter that lets users send private one-on-one or small-group messages outside the public feed. Chatter Messages travel between Salesforce users (internal employees and external Community members) and are stored on the ChatterMessage standard object. The feature exists for conversations that need privacy: discussing a sensitive customer issue, sharing internal-only context on a deal, or coordinating quietly with a colleague without posting to a public group.
Chatter Messages run alongside the public Chatter feed and Chatter Groups. Public posts and comments live on FeedItem and FeedComment; private messages live on ChatterMessage. The two systems are separate and have different visibility models: feed items respect record sharing and group membership; messages respect only the participant list. Salesforce''s strategic direction has moved private messaging to Slack for most modern orgs, but Chatter Messages persist in every org for legacy reasons and for orgs that have not adopted Slack.
How Chatter Messages handle private conversations
The ChatterMessage object
ChatterMessage is the standard object that stores private Chatter conversations. Each row holds the message body, the sender, the recipient list, the conversation ID (groups related messages), and the sent timestamp. Conversations are queryable via SOQL but typically accessed through the Chatter Messages UI rather than direct object views.
One-on-one vs. group messages
Chatter Messages support both one-on-one and small-group conversations. The recipient list is set at conversation creation time and cannot be expanded later; adding a new participant requires starting a new conversation. The cap is typically around 10-15 participants, beyond which the experience degrades and admins should move conversations to a Chatter Group or Slack.
The Messages UI
Users access Chatter Messages from the Chatter tab, the bell icon notifications, or a dedicated Messages link. The interface lists the user''s active conversations with unread-message counts; clicking a conversation opens the message thread. Mobile apps surface the same conversations in their native messaging UI.
Privacy model
Unlike feed posts, Chatter Messages are visible only to the participants. Even admins cannot read messages in the UI without explicit message-access permissions. SOQL queries against ChatterMessage are restricted by default; only users with View All Data or specific message-access permissions can see other users'' messages. This privacy model is important for compliance: discussions in messages may contain sensitive content that should not leak.
Compliance and audit
Regulated industries (financial services, healthcare) often require capturing all employee communications for compliance review. Chatter Messages can be archived via Salesforce Shield Event Monitoring or third-party archival tools (Smarsh, Global Relay). Without archival, messages exist only in the live ChatterMessage table; compliance review requires specific configuration.
The Slack alternative
Salesforce''s strategic direction for private messaging is Slack. Most modern Salesforce orgs running active collaboration have moved private conversations to Slack channels and DMs. The Salesforce-Slack integration surfaces relevant Slack conversations on Salesforce records and routes Slack alerts based on Salesforce data. Chatter Messages remain for legacy use but no longer get significant new features.
Cert exam relevance
Older Salesforce certifications (Admin, Service Cloud Consultant) covered Chatter Messages as part of collaboration. Current exams have shifted toward Slack-based collaboration; Chatter Messages appear only in legacy context questions. Knowing that the feature exists, that it''s separate from feed posts, and that Slack is the strategic direction is enough for any modern exam mention.
Use and audit Chatter Messages in an active org
Chatter Messages are a Chatter primitive. Configuration is mostly about permissions and compliance archival; usage is the daily activity of users.
- Confirm Chatter is enabled
Setup, Chatter Settings, ensure Chatter is on. Messages require the broader Chatter feature.
- Send a message from the Chatter UI
Open the Chatter tab, click Messages, click New Message. Pick recipients, write the message body, send.
- Configure compliance archival if needed
For regulated industries, enable Salesforce Shield Event Monitoring or integrate a third-party archival tool. Without archival, messages are not captured for compliance review.
- Restrict message-access permissions
Decide whether admins should be able to read messages. By default, only message participants can see them; View All Data grants broader access.
- Evaluate Slack as a replacement
For orgs with active collaboration needs, plan a migration to Slack. Chatter Messages are a legacy feature; Slack is the strategic direction.
- Train users on appropriate use
Document when to use a Chatter Message vs. a Chatter Group post vs. a Slack DM. Clear guidance prevents accidental sharing of sensitive content in the wrong surface.
- Chatter Messages are private by default. Even admins cannot read them without specific permissions.
- The participant list is locked at conversation creation. Adding participants later requires starting a new conversation.
- Regulated industries need compliance archival. Default ChatterMessage storage does not satisfy capture-and-supervision requirements.
- Salesforce''s strategic direction is Slack. Investing heavily in Chatter Messages is investing in a fading surface.
Trust & references
Cross-checked against the following references.
- Chatter MessagesSalesforce Help
- ChatterMessage ObjectSalesforce Developers
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Message, Chatter.
- Chatter OverviewSalesforce Help
About the Author
Dipojjal Chakrabarti is a B2C Solution Architect with 29 Salesforce certifications and over 13 years in the Salesforce ecosystem. He runs salesforcedictionary.com to help admins, developers, architects, and cert/interview candidates sharpen their fundamentals. More about Dipojjal.
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