Private messages that feel like a real conversation

Titli is a social app built around video, but a lot of friendships actually start in the inbox. Our private messaging is where you say hello after a good live, follow up on a call that ended too soon, or get to know someone slowly before you ever see their face. If you want a private messaging app or a chat app with voice notes that sits right next to your video calls, this is how it works on Titli.

What you can send in a Titli chat

A private chat on Titli supports the things you already use every day:

• Text messages for quick back-and-forth.
• Photos from your gallery or camera.
• Voice notes when typing feels slow or you want your tone to come through.
• Gifts, the same animated virtual gifts you can send in lives and calls.

Each of these has its place. A voice note in your own language often says more than a paragraph of text. A photo of the chai stall you are standing at can start a whole conversation. Incoming chat messages can also be auto-translated into your language. A gift is a small way to say thanks.

Read receipts and typing indicators

Titli shows read receipts, so you know when your message has been seen, and a typing indicator, so you know when the other person is replying. These small signals make a chat feel alive.

They also carry a small responsibility. If you see someone has read your message but has not replied, give them time. People are busy, shy, or simply thinking about what to say. A polite follow-up after a day is fine. Five messages in ten minutes is not.

Why start with messages instead of a call?

Messaging is a softer first step. A few reasons people prefer to chat first:

1. You set the pace. Reply in two minutes or two hours. Nobody is waiting on the other end of a ringing call.
2. You can think before you speak. Helpful if you are nervous, or writing in a second language.
3. It builds trust. A few days of easy chat makes a first video call feel natural rather than awkward.
4. It fits real life. You can reply between classes, during a lunch break or on the metro.

When the conversation is flowing, you can start a 1-on-1 video call directly from the chat screen. No need to search for the person again.

Does messaging cost anything?

For most chats, sending messages is part of normal app use. Titli can turn on per-message charging for some accounts, in which case sending a message to those accounts uses coins. When this applies, the app shows you before you send.

Where per-message charging is on, VIP membership can make messaging free; the app shows the current terms before you send. VIP is optional, and our VIP membership page explains what else it includes. Some featured creators in the Celebrities tab also set their own price for messages, which is shown on their profile.

Blocking and reporting from a chat

You should never have to put up with an unpleasant chat. From inside any conversation you can:

• Block the person, so they can no longer message or call you.
• Report the account to Titli moderators, choosing a reason such as harassment, spam, fake profile, nudity or underage user.

Blocking is instant and the other person is not told why. You can see and undo blocks later from the blocked-accounts list in settings.

Good habits for private chats

A private chat feels personal, which is exactly why it pays to be a little careful. Some habits we suggest:

• Do not share your phone number, address or workplace early. Your number is not shown to people you talk to on Titli, so there is no reason to hand it over.
• Be wary of money requests. Anyone asking you to send money, share an OTP or click an outside link is a red flag. Report them.
• Think before sending photos. Once sent, you cannot control where they go. Never send anything you would not want shared.
• Keep it respectful. Explicit messages, insults and pressure break the Community Guidelines and get accounts removed.

If something serious happens, such as a scam or threats, you can also report it to India's national cybercrime portal at cybercrime.gov.in or call the helpline 1930. Our safety page and our guide to privacy settings on video chat apps have more detail.

Starting a chat that goes somewhere

The hardest message is the first one. "Hi" alone rarely gets a reply. Try mentioning something specific: the song they sang in their live, a post they shared, or a shared interest from their profile. Ask one open question and let them answer. Our article on how to start a conversation with a stranger has plenty of openers that work.

Frequently asked questions