For years, there has been a kind of formality to the direct message (or DM) on Twitter. Sure, the social network allows users to follow and publicly tweet at anyone they please. Direct messaging, though, has always been a bit more personal. Under previous settings, Twitter had only allowed users to send direct messages to their followers.

Now, according to a new report from the BBC, users will be able to change that setting in order to allow for direct messages from anyone, including non-followers. Twitter says it hopes that the new settings will help users “to connect more easily, and directly, with the people, causes, and businesses [they] care most about.”

The mention of “causes” and “businesses” is really the heart of the matter with this recent change. Twitter has always been a fine method of both public and private communication for friends or acquaintances who follow one another. However, in the past, you could receive a DM from a business, band, cause, or some other Twitter VIP who you follow, but still not be able to reply if that particular VIP was not following you back.

The new Twitter update has changed that rule, and will allow users to actually respond to direct messages from non-followers. Twitter is also working to make direct messaging more visible and accessible in mobile, with DM buttons that will appear on all profiles to which you can send a message.

Clearly, Twitter is working hard to make private messaging a more attractive option on its platform. Considering the fact that social media companies like WhatsApp have been quite successful just by offering a private messaging platform, Twitter could feasibly have a lot to gain by ditching the old, formal rules of DMs.

Of course, the new features could also make Twitter more prone to spam. With that in mind, users will be able to decide for themselves whether or not to allow DMs from non-followers. As with many things, though, it’s just nice to have the option.