X has rolled out a new functionality for DM interaction, with the ability to now swipe right on any DM in a chain to directly reply to it.

, the new reply process makes it a bit easier to reply to any message in a chat. X also added the capacity to reply direct to a specific message within a DM thread back in May, and this new swipe-to-reply UI will enhance that capacity even more.

You can also still add a general reply by typing in a response into the text bubble at the bottom of the display, so you don't have to swipe on a message to respond. But it's another option to help improve the process, which could come in handy for streamlining your chats.

So, cool, right? It's another element to X DMs, which were also recently made to only accept non-follower messages from verified users as the default, while verified users can also now send encrypted DMs too, but not non-paying users.

In that sense, it is surprising that X even allows non-payers to make use of this new swipe-to-reply functionality, though given that the vast majority of X users haven't signed up for X Premium (formerly "Twitter Blue"), it probably wouldn't be seeing much use at all if it were restricted.

But in a broader sense, X appears to be positioning DMs as a much larger focus, with group chats another element that Elon and Co. want to focus on moving forward, as they lean into broader social media engagement trends and build off of X's private communities.

X is also planning to introduce audio and video calling capabilities in the near future as an extension of its messaging functionalities, but there's no news on whether this too will be an X Premium exclusive.
Musk posted this week that X's video and audio calling tools will be available on Android, iOS and web, without needing a phone number, with X, according to Musk, acting "as the effective global address book.".

Not sure how that really applies exactly, given that X has only a fraction of the audience reach that Facebook or WhatsApp has, but Musk seems to believe that X can serve as a better contact platform for direct calls, because of the number of people you can connect to in the app.

X video and audio calls will not be encrypted at least, not at first.

X has been trying to nudge DM interaction for some time, dating back even before Musk bought the platform, with previous management also looking to emphasize DMs as a primary customer service option, something that didn't quite take on in a big way.

The inclusion of audio and video calls, however would change that greatly and X is clearly looking to build on the existing messaging tools to maximize utility.

Which could make it a larger influence in the future. And in that light, perhaps even smaller changes - like being able to swipe to reply - will prove to be more important than you think.

Either way, X DMs is changing, and it's worth paying attention to how that affects overall usage.