Strava, the popular social network for fitness enthusiasts, has announced a new feature that will allow athletes to communicate with each other directly through the app. The feature, called Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication, is designed to enhance the engagement and interaction among the Strava community.
What is Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication?
Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication is a feature that enables Strava users to send and receive private messages to and from other athletes. The feature is voluntary, meaning that users can opt in or out of it according to their preferences. Users can also choose to block or report any unwanted messages.
The feature is intended to facilitate conversations among athletes who share similar interests, goals, or activities. For example, users can use the feature to ask questions about gear, routes, training, or events, to coordinate meet-ups or group rides, or to offer feedback or encouragement to other athletes.
How to use Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication?
To use Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication, users need to have the latest version of the Strava app installed on their devices. Users can access the feature by tapping on the profile picture of any athlete they want to contact, and then tapping on the “contact this athlete” button. Users can also access the feature from the comments section of any activity, post, achievement, completion, challenge, race, or goal entry.
Users can send text, voice, or image messages to other athletes, as well as share their activities, segments, or routes. Users can also see when their messages are delivered or read by the recipients. Users can manage their conversations by deleting, archiving, or muting them.
Why did Strava introduce Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication?
Strava introduced Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication as a response to the feedback and requests from its users. According to Strava, many users expressed the desire to have a more direct and personal way of communicating with other athletes, beyond the public comments and kudos.
Strava also stated that the feature is part of its mission to connect athletes around the world and to make fitness more social and fun. Strava hopes that the feature will help users to build stronger relationships with their fellow athletes, to discover new opportunities and challenges, and to improve their performance and motivation.
What are the benefits of Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication?
Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication offers several benefits to Strava users, such as:
- Enhanced engagement and interaction: Users can have more meaningful and in-depth conversations with other athletes, without the limitations or distractions of the public comments section.
- Increased knowledge and inspiration: Users can learn from the experiences and insights of other athletes, as well as get inspired by their achievements and stories.
- Expanded network and community: Users can connect with new athletes who share their interests, goals, or activities, as well as strengthen their existing connections with their friends and followers.
- Improved convenience and privacy: Users can communicate with other athletes at any time and from anywhere, as well as control their privacy and preferences.
What are the challenges and risks of Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication?
Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication also poses some challenges and risks to Strava users, such as:
- Potential abuse and harassment: Users may receive unwanted, inappropriate, or offensive messages from other athletes, which may affect their safety and well-being.
- Lack of moderation and monitoring: Strava may not have the capacity or the authority to moderate or monitor the messages exchanged by the users, which may lead to violations of the terms of service or the community guidelines.
- Reduced visibility and transparency: Users may miss out on the public feedback and recognition that they receive from the comments and kudos, which may reduce their motivation and satisfaction.
How to stay safe and respectful while using Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication?
Strava advises its users to follow some best practices and tips to stay safe and respectful while using Athlete-to-Athlete Direct Communication, such as:
- Be courteous and polite: Users should treat other athletes with respect and kindness, and avoid sending messages that are rude, abusive, or disrespectful.
- Be relevant and appropriate: Users should send messages that are relevant and appropriate to the context and the purpose of the conversation, and avoid sending messages that are spammy, irrelevant, or inappropriate.
- Be cautious and vigilant: Users should be careful and selective about who they contact and what they share, and avoid disclosing any personal or sensitive information. Users should also report or block any messages that are suspicious, harmful, or unwanted.
