Messaging & Calls

Open Messaging

On the main app bar, tap the chat bubble icon. That opens Messaging. An unread badge appears when you can chat.

You can also open listing chats from the Listings hub app bar (Listing chats), which lands on Messaging with the Listings filter selected. Merchant pages can open a merchant chat with Message this merchant.

When messaging is available, a people icon also opens Connections. If chat is disabled for your tier, Messaging stays on Notifications only and conversations show as not available.

Inbox filter chips

When you can chat, Messaging shows horizontal chips above the list:

• All
• Groups
• DMs
• Listings (marketplace tiers only)
• Merchants (marketplace tiers only)
• Notifications (system notices, not DMs)

App bar title is Messaging on conversation filters, and Notifications when that chip is selected.

Empty states by filter

• All: No Conversations
• Groups: No group chats yet
• DMs: No direct messages yet
• Listings: No listing chats yet
• Merchants: No merchant chats yet

Search with no matches: No matching conversations.

Search, pins, and app bar actions

• Search icon (conversations only): field hint Search conversations
• Pinned chats appear under Pinned
• Pull down to refresh
• Long-press a conversation for Leave conversation, or Reset secure session if the secure key is missing
• App bar New Group when you can chat
• App bar Call history when calling is allowed

Start a conversation

• Profile chat - on someone’s public profile, tap the chat bubble when you follow each other (mutual connection)
• Listing chat - on a listing seller row, tap the chat icon when a conversation exists (marketplace messaging tiers). See Listings.
• Merchant chat - from a merchant page contact control
• Community chat - from a community header chat control when your tier allows it
• New Group - from Messaging app bar when you can chat

If the encryption key is not ready, you may see Waiting for Secure Access. Tap Got It and try again after the secure session is ready.

New Group

On New Group you can set:

• Group name (required)
• Group avatar (Take picture, Select picture, or Choose from library)
• Participants via Choose from connections
• Posting permissions: Everyone or Admins
• Allow member invites

Then tap Create group.

Listing chats

Listing threads appear under the Listings chip (and in All). At the top of an open listing chat:

• Deal status: Open, Awarded, or Locked
• View listing returns to the listing detail

Sellers award a buyer from a message long-press → Award Buyer (dialog Award Listing → Confirm & Award). Revoke uses Revoke Award. After award, share Private Pickup Instructions from the listing. Full sale flow: Listings.

When a listing chat is locked for you, the composer is replaced with: This conversation is locked. Only the seller and the awarded buyer can send messages.

Merchant chats

Merchant threads use the Merchants filter. An open merchant chat can show a header with View merchant.

Inside a conversation

Composer hint: Message. You may see is typing... and empty thread text No Messages.

Composer: text, gallery, camera / spark

• Type text (up to 1000 characters) and send
• Attach from gallery with the photo button (available when messaging is allowed, including supervised)
• Camera button (adult and independent minor only): captures an in-chat spark (ephemeral photo or video). Hidden for supervised profiles

Group composers can also show:

• Only group staff can send messages right now.
• You are muted in this group and cannot send messages.

Message actions

Long-press a message for:

• Reactions (including double-tap for a heart)
• Copy (text)
• Report on others’ messages → Submit Report
• Delete on your own unread messages
• On listing chats (seller): Award Buyer / Revoke Award

Reply and forward are not available in the current app UI.

Overflow menu

Open More for:

• Search in the thread
• Conversation Info
• Theme (chat theme editor)
• Reset secure session
• Call history
• Leave conversation

Conversation Info

• Mute notifications
• Pin conversation
• Blur Secure Media
• Group: Update Group and Members
• Direct chat: View profile, Block user

Secure sessions

Conversations use encrypted sessions. If someone resets the session you may see banners such as:

• Secure session reset is pending. Accept to continue.
• Secure session reset requested. Waiting for the other person to accept.

Accept when prompted so messaging can continue on a new encrypted session.

Voice and video calls

From a 1-on-1 conversation, use the app bar Voice call or Video call controls when calling is allowed for that conversation.

Calls are preview-featured and 1-on-1 only. Group calls are not supported yet.

In-call controls

• Mute / Unmute
• Audio route: Speaker, Earpiece, Headset, Bluetooth
• Video: Camera on / Camera off, Flip
• Accept, Decline, Hang up

Status text can show Incoming call…, Calling…, Connecting…, Connected, or Call ended. You may also see offline, cooldown, or permission prompts (microphone, camera, and on Android nearby devices for Bluetooth).

Call History

Open Call History from Messaging or from a thread’s overflow menu. Rows group by Today / Yesterday, show Missed or Unanswered, and tap opens the related conversation.

Notifications chip

The Notifications chip shows system notices (not DMs). You can mark as read or delete them. This surface remains available even when chat is disabled.

Messaging settings

Settings → Communication → Messaging opens Messaging & conversations (hidden if you cannot chat):

• Enable Decrypted Notifications
• Run conversation sync now
• Clean local messages (device-only wipe; does not delete server messages)

Also nearby in Settings: Reset Push Notifications, Message Purge, and Backup tools that include conversation data. Full walkthrough: Settings.

Safety in chat

• Report a message from long-press → Submit Report (Hate Speech, Harassment, Sexual Content, Threats Violence, Self Harm, Spam Scam, Doxxing, Ai Bot Behavior, Other)
• Block from Conversation Info or from a profile overflow menu
• Urgent issues: safety@looma.social

What changes by age tier

• Restricted / unverified adult: no conversations or calls; Notifications only
• Supervised: messaging and calls allowed when verified; in-chat camera / spark hidden; gallery attach remains; Message Purge hidden in Settings
• Independent Minor / Adult verified: messaging, gallery, camera sparks, and calls when conversation/server flags allow; Listings and Merchants filters when marketplace access is on