Keep strangers out of your main inbox
Messages from people who do not follow you are kept separate instead of mixing straight into your main inbox, so you can screen unwanted contact before it ever reaches you.
Adjust who can message you at all
Beyond managing individual requests, checking your message privacy settings lets you decide in advance whether anyone, only people you follow, or no one outside your network can send you a request in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will someone know if I decline their message request?
No -- deleting or ignoring a request does not send any notification to the other person, so they will not know you saw and dismissed it.
Can I unblock someone I blocked by mistake?
Yes -- going to that account's profile and selecting "Unblock" restores the ability for them to find your profile and send messages again.