Spond offers a fully featured messaging tool to help administrators and coaches stay in touch with their members and with each other, while also allowing direct communication between individuals or groups of members. Unlike some messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger, Spond’s messaging tool is fully GDPR compliant and provides complete traceability. It is also designed with Safeguarding in mind, ensuring that communication takes place in a safe and responsible manner, particularly when involving children and young people.
From the Spond app, you can send messages to a single member, multiple selected members or all members of the groups you're in.
How do I send messages in Spond?
You can send messages to people in the group(s) you are in. Messages can be started via messages on the home screen, in the member list from an event or in groups. It's not possible to start a group chat with members across groups.
💡 TIP!
For group chats, there is an upper limit of 100 members. If the group is linked to a Spond Club profile, administrators can send messages to all club members directly from Spond Club. Read more about messaging in Spond Club here.
How to start a chat from messages on the home screen
How to start a chat from messages on the home screen
App:
Open the app
Select messages 💬
Select the "➕" sign in the top right (iPhone), bottom right (Android)
Select group
Select the person or people you want to start a chat with, if you want to start a chat with everyone in the group press "Select all"
Next
The call is established and you can start typing. You can also send images or files by pressing the blue "➕" sign
Web:
Log in to your Spond profile here
Select messages 💬
In the top left corner, klick "New message"
Select group
Select the person or people you want to start a chat with, if you want to start a chat with everyone in the group select "Select all"
Next
The chat is created and you can start typing. You can also send photos by selecting the camera icon 📷, or files by selecting the paperclip icon 📎
Other options (details) in messages
When messages are sent in a chat, you'll be able to make some choices. The text below explains what these options are and how they work.
How to find details in messages
How to find details in messages
App:
Open the app
Select messages 💬
Enter the call in question
In the top right corner, Select the information icon ℹ️
Web:
Log in to your Spond profile here
Select messages 💬
Enter the call in question
In the top right corner, select Details
Notifications (app only)
Toggle the switch on/off to receive or not receive notifications for this chat.
Show profile
Go to the Spond profile of the person you're having a chat with.
If you are in a group chat, select the person whose Spond profile you want to view from the list.
Show group
Takes you directly to the group where the chat was created.
Report
As part of safeguarding, it is possible to report message threads to Spond.
You can report:
Harassment
Sharing inappropriate things
People pretending to be someone else
Unauthorised sales
Other undesirable behaviour
When we receive reports regarding message content, we will review and evaluate the reported content. We will then take any necessary action in accordance with the applicable guidelines and regulations.
How to report someone in a message thread
How to report someone in a message thread
App:
Go to "Messages"
Find and tap the relevant message thread
In the top right corner, you’ll see an information icon ℹ️, tap it
Tap "Report"
Choose the reason for reporting
Tap "Send"
When we receive reports regarding message content, we will review and evaluate the reported content. We will then take any necessary action in accordance with the applicable guidelines and regulations.
Web:
Go to "Messages"
Find and click the relevant message thread
In the top right corner, you’ll see a text button → "Details", click it
Click "Report"
Select the reason for reporting
Click "Send"
When we receive reports regarding message content, we will review and evaluate the reported content. We will then take any necessary action in accordance with the applicable guidelines and regulations.
Archive chat
The conversation will only be archived for you; the recipient will still see the conversation in their inbox and won't know that you have archived it.
How to archive a chat
How to archive a chat
For all iOS and Android
Open the message you want to archive → at the top right, tap the information icon ℹ️ → tap "Archive conversation"
iOS only
When in the message overview, swipe left on the message you want to archive, and the message will be archived
When in the message overview, tap and hold the message you want to archive, and you'll see the option to archive the message or mark it as unread
How to find an archived chat
How to find an archived chat
Start by creating a new message by selecting the recipient.
Previous content will reappear. The chat remains archived at this point and will only be reopened if someone sends a new message.
💡 TIP!
To find an archived group chat, you need to create a new message and add all the participants from the original conversation. This will make the chat reappear in the list. For the chat to be fully restored, someone in the group needs to send a new message.
Name a group chat (naming applies only to group chats)
Give the group chat a name.
Mentioning/tagging people in group messages
In group conversations, there can often be many messages, making it challenging to keep track of everything. By using the “@” function, you can mention a specific person in the conversation.
To mention someone, type “@” followed by their name (for example: @Kevin). The name will usually be highlighted, and the person will receive a notification that they have been mentioned in the conversation.
Add people to a group chat
You can add new people to the group chat later. Only people from the group where the chat was started can join the group chat.
⚠️ NOTE: Previous messages sent in the chat will be visible to anyone added to the group chat afterwards.
Leave a group chat
If you want to leave the group chat, select this option. Please note that you'll lose access to the chat history.
How do I delete messages in a chat?
You can delete messages(only those sent by you). This will delete the message for both you and the recipient. You cannot delete an entire chat, only archive it.
How to delete messages in a chat
How to delete messages in a chat
App:
Open the app
Select messages 💬
Enter the chat in question
Select and hold on the message you want to delete. You'll receive a pop-up menu where you can press delete
Web:
Log in to your Spond profile here
Select messages 💬
Enter the chat in question
Hover over the message you want to delete, select the trash can icon 🗑️
Confirm deletion by clicking the "Delete message" button
Age limit and message management for children
The age limit for messaging is a setting that allows group administrators to set age restrictions for messaging within the group, as part of Safeguarding.
Administrators can choose between no age limit or age limits of 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 years.
For example, administrators can configure the settings so that members under 16 or 18 years old cannot send or receive messages from other members, guardians, or administrators.
The purpose of this setting is to create a safe environment for children, ensuring they only participate in chats when they are ready.
How a group administrator sets the age limit for messages
How a group administrator sets the age limit for messages
App:
Open the app
Select groups
Select your required group
Tap the three dots in the top right corner
Scroll down to "Age limit for messages"
Set how old members must be to receive/send messages
Web:
Log in to your Spond profile here
Click the required group
Click the three dots on the far right of the selection bar
Settings
Scroll down to "Age limit for messages"
Set how old members must be to receive/send messages
⚠️ NOTE: If the group is part of a Spond Club, a club administrator must set permissions for this in the club’s Spond Club profile settings under "Departments and Groups" → "Group Settings". You can read about how to do this here.
Parents and guardians can view their children's messages.
Persons who are guardians for someone in one or more groups will see a new tab in the messaging view where they can view the messages of the person they are a guardian for.
The purpose of this is to give guardians the ability to monitor who the person they are responsible for is in contact with and to see the conversations they participate in within the Spond app.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to block a user in the Spond app, for example to avoid receiving messages from them?
Is it possible to block a user in the Spond app, for example to avoid receiving messages from them?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to block a user in the Spond app. However, if someone behaves inappropriately in direct messages, you can report the user to Spond in cases such as:
Harassment
Sharing inappropriate content
Impersonation
Unauthorised sales
Other unwanted behaviour
We also recommend informing the group’s administrator or contact person if you experience inappropriate behaviour. They can follow up on the matter locally.
How do I find an archived message thread?
How do I find an archived message thread?
To find an archived message thread, do the following:
Start creating a new message by selecting the recipient.
Previous content will be displayed again.
The conversation is still archived at this point, it will only be reopened if any of the members in the message thread send a new message.
How do I see who has seen messages?
How do I see who has seen messages?
Single messages: When you send a message the status "Message sent" will be displayed under the message bubble, this status will change to Set when the recipient has opened the message conversation.
Group messages: When you send a message, the status "Message sent" will appear below the message bubble.
If one or two people have seen messages, the name of the person(s) who have seen the message will appear under the message bubble.
If three or more people have seen the message, it will say, for example, seen by 3 people.
If you select the text, it will show who has seen the message. If all members of the group conversation have seen the message, the status under the message bubble will be "Seen by all".