How can you use @mentions in Slack?

Using @mentions in Slack serves as a way to direct your message or notification specifically to another user or a group of users. When you type "@" followed by a user's name, Slack recognizes the mention and notifies that specific user, ensuring they see your message. This is particularly helpful in busy channels where messages can easily get lost, as it ensures the targeted individual is alerted to your comment or request.

The mention functionality enhances communication and collaboration by drawing the attention of those most relevant to the conversation. It also fosters accountability, as the mentioned user understands that they are expected to respond or take action based on the context of the message.

While mentioning a channel name or clicking a user's profile picture can serve other communication purposes, those methods do not achieve the same direct notification effect that mentioning a user's name does. Sending a message to a group chat is more about the overall audience and doesn't focus on individual users, making it less effective for direct communication.