The Engage feature in DumGum is a powerful tool that helps your Personas automatically start or continue conversations with users. This increases user interaction without you having to manually send every message.
It works by telling the Persona when and how to send an extra (proactive) message in a chat. You control this with one main setting called replyParameters.engage.
1. What does “engage” actually do?
The engage setting is like giving your Persona instructions on how to reach out to a user. It has four main choices:
- ICEBREAKER — Start a completely new conversation (great when there is no chat history yet).
- NUDGE — Gently follow up on the most recent message to keep the conversation going.
- REVIVE — Restart an old or “dead” conversation that has been quiet for a while.
- AUTO — Let the Persona decide the best of the three options automatically (recommended for most cases).
Quick Recommendation Table
| Situation | Recommended engage | Why? |
|---|
| Brand new user, no chat yet | ICEBREAKER (or AUTO) | Starts the conversation naturally |
| You want full control over opener style | ICEBREAKER + specific IcebreakerType | Tailored icebreakers |
| User replied recently but dropped off | NUDGE | Keeps momentum without changing topic |
| Conversation died hours/days ago | REVIVE | Brings it back to life |
| You don’t want to think about timing | AUTO | Persona decides intelligently |
2. The Four Modes Explained
2.1 ICEBREAKER — Starting fresh conversations
Use this when the user has never messaged your Persona before (or the chat is brand new).
The Persona looks at the user’s profile and creates an opening message designed to get a reply.
- By default, it uses
AUTO (the Persona picks what it thinks is the smartest way to start).
- You can also choose a specific style by setting an
IcebreakerType.
IcebreakerType | What it means | Best for… |
|---|
AUTO | Persona chooses the best opener automatically | Most situations — safe and smart default |
NO_PHOTO | User has no profile picture | Encouraging them to add one |
MISSING_DETAIL | Profile is missing important info (age, interests, etc.) | Asking for missing details naturally |
MUCH_YOUNGER | User is at least 7 years younger than the Persona | Age-gap friendly openers |
MUCH_OLDER | User is at least 7 years older than the Persona | Age-gap friendly openers |
NEARBY | User is within ~10 km / close location | Location-based icebreakers |
GENERIC | Simple, universal opener that works for anyone | When you want something neutral |
USER_ONLINE | User is currently online right now | Urgency / real-time feel |
USER_OFFLINE | User is currently offline | Casual check-in |
JUST_JOINED | User signed up very recently | Welcoming new users |
EROTIC | Starts with a strongly flirtatious / adult-themed message | When the Persona is meant for spicy chats |
PHOTO_COMMENT | Persona comments on the user’s main profile picture | Visual / personalized start |
If you choose PHOTO_COMMENT, the Persona might say: “Wow, that beach photo is stunning. Where was that taken? 😍“
2.2 NUDGE — Keep the chat alive
Use this when the user hasn’t replied recently (usually within the last few hours).
The Persona sends a gentle follow-up that stays on the same topic and encourages the user to respond without feeling pushy.
Example: If the last message was about weekend plans, a nudge might be: “Still thinking about that hiking trip? Any plans yet? 🌲“
2.3 REVIVE — Bring back cold conversations
Use this for chats that have gone quiet for a longer time (typically 6+ hours since the user’s last message).
The Persona can:
- Refer back to something from the previous messages, or
- Switch to a fresh topic if needed
This helps “revive” stale threads without losing context.
Example: “Hey, it’s been a while since we talked about your trip to Italy. Did you end up going? 🇮🇹“
2.4 AUTO — No-code mode
Set engage to AUTO, and the AI automatically chooses the right action based on the situation:
| Condition | Action taken |
|---|
| No previous messages at all | Uses ICEBREAKER |
| Recent message (< 6 hours ago) but no reply | Uses NUDGE |
| Older message (≥ 6 hours ago) | Uses REVIVE |
Why use the Engage feature?
- Increases replies and keeps users coming back — Smart, timely messages get better response rates than doing nothing.
- One single setting does it all — Instead of building complicated rules or timers in your system, just use this one parameter.
- Customizable when you want control — Use specific
IcebreakerType options for more targeted or playful starts.
- Saves time — Especially with
AUTO, your team can focus on other things while the AI keeps conversations flowing.