An Open Letter to Wattpad: Why Removing Private Messaging Is a Mistake

As a dedicated Wattpad user and a passionate writer, I am deeply troubled by the recent decision to remove the private messaging feature from the platform. For years, private messages have been a vital tool for me to connect with fellow writers, share feedback, and build meaningful relationships within the Wattpad community. Now, with the impending removal of this feature, I can’t help but feel like an essential part of the platform is being taken away from me.

It’s not just about losing the ability to chat privately with other users — it’s about losing a valuable space for collaboration, support, and camaraderie. Private messaging has been a lifeline for many of us, especially those of us who are legacy iOS users. Being able to communicate directly with fellow writers, exchange ideas, and offer encouragement has been crucial to my growth and development as a writer.

Furthermore, the timing of this decision couldn’t be worse. As someone who was already impacted by Twitter’s changes last summer, I know firsthand how frustrating it can be to have a beloved platform alter its features in a way that negatively affects its users. With Wattpad’s decision to remove private messaging, it feels like yet another blow to those of us who rely on these tools to connect with others and share our work.

I understand that Wattpad’s primary focus is on providing a platform for reading and writing original stories, but removing private messaging altogether seems like a drastic and unnecessary step. While dynamic commenting has its merits, private messaging offers a level of intimacy and privacy that is invaluable to many users, myself included.

And what about the existing messages? The fact that all direct messages will be deleted once the feature is removed is incredibly disappointing. For many of us, these messages represent years of conversations, friendships, and memories — all of which will be lost forever.

Moving forward, it’s essential for Wattpad to reconsider this decision and find a way to preserve private messaging in some capacity. Whether it’s through implementing stricter privacy measures or offering alternative solutions for communication, there must be a way to address the concerns of users while still maintaining the integrity of the platform.

In the meantime, I urge my fellow Wattpad users to voice their concerns and advocate for the reinstatement of private messaging. Together, we can make our voices heard and ensure that Wattpad remains a vibrant and supportive community for writers and readers alike.

You can sign the petition here: Petition · Preserve Private Messaging Feature on Wattpad — United States · Change.org

One more petition: Petition · Prevent Wattpad from Deleting Private Messages — United States · Change.org