1. Slack Messaging Protocol
2. Slack Messaging Format

This is because Slack automatically sends notifications when new users join a thread, so if those new users stylize their username to be an insult, then the users in that thread will receive a notification that includes that language. Further, the problem of harassment on messaging platforms is far from new. In recent years, Slack has improved its position in the market through a series of acquisitions. In 2018, Atlassian shut down their messaging and team collaboration applications HipChat and Stride, announcing that Slack will be buying up the IP and taking on the users. For the unaware, Slack is a messaging tool that many workplaces (and friend groups) use to communicate remotely. Within the service, next to your online handle, rests a little telltale bubble. Slack became a public messaging platform this morning with the wider rollout of a new cross-organizational direct messaging feature, and now it’s already taking steps to mitigate the dangers of.

• Slack is a messaging program designed for use in the workplace.
• It's available for desktop and mobile and can be used through the Slack website on a web browser.
• There's a free version, but if you want the full version, it's at least $6.67 a month per person.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

If you work for a large enough company, or for an organization with any remote employees or freelancers, chances are that at some point you're going to be asked to join Slack.

What started out as an internal chatting program for one company has grown into the primary communication and workflow platform for companies, nonprofits, and other organizations around the world.

Here's what you need to know about Slack, which is available for Mac and PC and iPhone and Android devices.

What you need to know about Slack

Think of Slack as a chatroom shared among all the members of an organization.

Your organization is known as a 'workspace' and is divided into 'channels,' which are separate group chats with their own members and topics.

In these channels, you can send messages, images, internet links, videos, and more. They're designed to make communication between employees seamless, and replace many of the functions that email once dominated.

Slack Messaging Protocol

Slack Messaging Format

There are also direct messages, which let you chat with one or several people privately without anyone else being able to join.

Slack is also built to sync with the apps that your company uses every day, like Google Calendar and Google Drive.

Your administrator can install apps in Slack, which let you use them without ever leaving the chat you're in.

Administrators can also set how long chat messages are kept for. By default, messages are kept indefinitely, which means you can use the search function to find messages from any time. But many organizations choose to delete messages after a set amount of time.

Slack apps are available for Windows and Mac computers and Apple and Android mobile devices. You can access the same functionalities through Slack's website in a desktop web browser.

How the different tiers of Slack compare

The free version of Slack allows you to search through the most recent 10,000 messages and add a limited number of people to your workspace.

Paid versions of Slack, which are billed based on how many members your workspace has, give you unlimited search, and the ability to add more apps and members than the free plan.

The Standard paid plan costs $6.67 a month per active user, while the Plus version goes for $12.50 a month per active user. You'll need to contact Slack directly to get a quote for the ultimate 'Enterprise Grid' payment plan. There are discounts available for nonprofits and educators.

Other bonuses in the paid plans include heightened account security, encrypted messaging, data loss prevention, group calling, and more.

For more information on what each individual Slack plan offers, check out the website.

Related coverage from Tech Reference: