Text vs. Dm — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 27, 2024
Texts are messages sent via SMS, relying on a cellular network, while DMs (Direct Messages) are sent through social media platforms or messaging apps using the internet.
Difference Between Text and Dm
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Text messaging, or texting, uses the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol, functioning over cellular networks to send messages between phones. In contrast, Direct Messages (DMs) are a feature of social media platforms and messaging apps that utilize an internet connection to send private messages between users. This fundamental difference in the medium affects their accessibility, reliability, and functionality.
Texts are universally accessible on mobile phones and do not require an internet connection, making them widely used for quick, simple communication. Meanwhile, DMs require both the sender and recipient to have an account on the same platform or app and an active internet connection, offering a broader range of features like sending multimedia, starting group chats, and even making video calls in some cases.
The cost of sending texts might be covered by a user's mobile phone plan, often with a limit on the number of SMS messages that can be sent per month, or charged per message. On the other hand, DMs are generally free, with costs only associated with the internet data used, which can be minimal or covered by Wi-Fi.
Privacy and security measures also differ, with texts being relatively secure but potentially interceptable by service providers or through sophisticated hacking. DMs, depending on the platform, may offer end-to-end encryption, providing a higher level of security for users' messages, although this is not universally applied across all messaging apps.
Text messaging's simplicity and direct approach make it suitable for a wide age range and technical skill levels, ensuring that messages can be received and read without the need for internet access or navigating through an app. DMs, while offering more features and interactive possibilities, cater to a user base that is comfortable with smartphones and internet usage, facilitating more dynamic and multimedia-rich communication.
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Comparison Chart
Medium
Cellular network
Internet
Device Compatibility
Most mobile phones
Smartphones, tablets, and computers with specific apps or web access
Cost
Per message or part of a mobile plan
Free, except for internet data charges
Features
Basic messaging
Multimedia, group chats, video calls
Accessibility
Universal, no internet needed
Requires internet and platform account
Security
Basic, potentially interceptable
Higher, with encryption on some platforms
User Demographic
Broad, including non-internet-savvy users
Internet-savvy users, younger demographics
Compare with Definitions
Text
Texts use cellular networks for messaging.
I sent a text to confirm our meeting time.
Dm
They allow multimedia sharing.
Check the DM for the video link.
Text
They are accessible without internet.
She received the text even though her internet was down.
Dm
DMs require an internet connection.
I'll send you a DM with the details.
Text
Texts are simple and direct.
He prefers texts for urgent messages.
Dm
DMs are platform-specific.
We connected through DMs on Instagram.
Text
Texts are widely compatible.
Even basic phones can receive texts.
Dm
DMs support group chats.
Let's start a group DM for the project.
Text
They may have a cost.
My phone plan includes unlimited texts.
Dm
They can be more secure.
Our conversation is safe, thanks to end-to-end encryption in DMs.
Text
A book or other written or printed work, regarded in terms of its content rather than its physical form
A text which explores pain and grief
Dm
Diabetes caused by a relative or absolute deficiency of insulin and characterized by polyuria;
When doctors say `diabetes' they usually mean `diabetes mellitus'
Text
The main body of a book or other piece of writing, as distinct from other material such as notes, appendices, and illustrations
The pictures are clear and relate well to the text
Dm
A metric unit of length equal to one tenth of a meter
Text
A written work chosen or set as a subject of study
Too much concentration on set texts can turn pupils against reading
Text
A text message
Just give us a call or send us a text
Text
Fine, large handwriting, used especially for manuscripts.
Text
Send (someone) a text message
If she was going to go she would have texted us
Text
The original words of something written or printed, as opposed to a paraphrase, translation, revision, or condensation.
Text
The words of a speech appearing in print.
Text
Words, as of a libretto, that are set to music in a composition.
Text
Words treated as data by a computer.
Text
A text message.
Text
The body of a printed work as distinct from headings and illustrative matter on a page or from front and back matter in a book.
Text
One of the editions or forms of a written work
After examining all three manuscripts, he published a new text of the poem.
Text
Something, such as a literary work or other cultural product, regarded as an object of critical analysis.
Text
A passage from the Scriptures or another authoritative source chosen for the subject of a discourse or cited for support in argument.
Text
A passage from a written work used as the starting point of a discussion.
Text
A subject; a topic.
Text
A textbook.
Text
To send a text message to
She texted me when she arrived at the airport.
Text
To communicate by text message
He texted that he would be late.
Text
To key or send text messages
She was texting in class and missed what was said.
Text
A writing consisting of multiple glyphs, characters, symbols or sentences.
Text
A book, tome or other set of writings.
Text
(colloquial) A brief written message transmitted between mobile phones.
Text
(computing) Data which can be interpreted as human-readable text.
Plain text
Text
A verse or passage of Scripture, especially one chosen as the subject of a sermon, or in proof of a doctrine.
Text
(by extension) Anything chosen as the subject of an argument, literary composition, etc.
Text
(printing) A style of writing in large characters; also, a kind of type used in printing.
German text
Text
(transitive) To send a text message to; i.e. to transmit text using the Short Message Service (SMS), or a similar service, between communications devices, particularly mobile phones.
Just text me when you get here.
I'll text the address to you as soon as I find it.
Text
(intransitive) To send and receive text messages.
Have you been texting all afternoon?
Text
(dated) To write in large characters, as in text hand.
Text
A discourse or composition on which a note or commentary is written; the original words of an author, in distinction from a paraphrase, annotation, or commentary.
Text
The four Gospels, by way of distinction or eminence.
Text
A verse or passage of Scripture, especially one chosen as the subject of a sermon, or in proof of a doctrine.
How oft, when Paul has served us with a text,Has Epictetus, Plato, Tully, preached!
Text
Hence, anything chosen as the subject of an argument, literary composition, or the like; topic; theme.
Text
A style of writing in large characters; text-hand also, a kind of type used in printing; as, German text.
Text
That part of a document (printed or electronic) comprising the words, especially the main body of expository words, in contrast to the illustrations, pictures, charts, tables, or other formatted material which contain graphic elements as a major component.
Text
Any communication composed of words.
Text
A textbook.
Text
To write in large characters, as in text hand.
Text
The words of something written;
There were more than a thousand words of text
They handed out the printed text of the mayor's speech
He wants to reconstruct the original text
Text
A passage from the Bible that is used as the subject of a sermon;
The preacher chose a text from Psalms to introduce his sermon
Text
A book prepared for use in schools or colleges;
His economics textbook is in its tenth edition
The professor wrote the text that he assigned students to buy
Text
The main body of a written work (as distinct from illustrations or footnotes etc.);
Pictures made the text easier to understand
Common Curiosities
Are texts or DMs more secure?
DMs may offer more security features, such as end-to-end encryption, compared to traditional texts.
Can you send a DM without the internet?
No, DMs require an internet connection to send and receive messages.
Can texts be sent internationally?
Yes, texts can be sent internationally, but they may incur higher charges compared to domestic messages.
Do DMs cost money?
DMs are generally free, but they use internet data, which could have costs depending on your data plan.
Which is more popular, texts or DMs?
Popularity varies by demographic and region, with younger users and those in internet-heavy areas preferring DMs.
Do I need a smartphone for DMs?
Yes, sending and receiving DMs typically requires a smartphone, tablet, or computer with access to a specific app or website.
What is a text message?
A text message is a form of communication that uses the SMS protocol to send messages over cellular networks.
What does DM stand for?
DM stands for Direct Message, a private form of communication available on social media platforms and messaging apps.
Can anyone send me a DM?
This depends on your privacy settings; some platforms allow messages only from followers or connections.
Can you send pictures via texts?
Yes, but this uses MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), which might have different costs and limits than SMS.
How do you know if someone received your DM?
Many platforms show read receipts or status indicators for sent and viewed DMs.
How do texts work without the internet?
Texts are transmitted through the cellular network, which doesn't require an internet connection.
Can you delete sent DMs?
On many platforms, yes, you can delete DMs after sending, but this doesn't always remove them from the recipient's inbox.
Is there a limit to how long a text can be?
Yes, traditional SMS messages have a character limit, often 160 characters, beyond which they may be split into multiple messages.
Are DMs replacing texts?
While DMs are increasingly popular, texts remain widely used due to their simplicity and universal access.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
