Twitter update allows users to Direct Message people they don't follow

The feature was rolled out to a small sub-section of users in 2013

Twitter users can now message each other directly without first having to click 'Follow'. (FRED TANNEAU/AFP/Getty Images)

Twitter users can now send anyone direct messages, regardless of whether they are following each other.

As part of the update, Twitter has rolled out a Direct Message button on profile pages signed up to the system which can be seen on Android and iPhone devices.

The change therefore has potential to allow all of Twitter’s 288 million monthly active users to directly message high-profile figures and celebrities, if they decide to opt in.

Twitter has reassured users in a statement that they will be able to block people they do not want to talk to one-on-one.

The website said: "We’re rolling out these changes starting today to all users around the world. And we have lots more in the works to improve Direct Messages on Twitter, so that the private side of Twitter is just as fulfilling as the public side."

Twitter first introduced the setting for a limited number of users in 2013, according to Mashable.

The feature comes after Twitter launched a "retweet with comment" function last month, which enables users to feature other tweets in their own posts without using up any of their 140 characters.