diff --git a/backend/api/src/create-private-user-message-channel.ts b/backend/api/src/create-private-user-message-channel.ts
index a8dc6e0..fe0fd92 100644
--- a/backend/api/src/create-private-user-message-channel.ts
+++ b/backend/api/src/create-private-user-message-channel.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,24 @@
-import { APIError, APIHandler } from 'api/helpers/endpoint'
-import { filterDefined } from 'common/util/array'
-import { uniq } from 'lodash'
-import { createSupabaseDirectClient } from 'shared/supabase/init'
-import { addUsersToPrivateMessageChannel } from 'api/helpers/private-messages'
-import { getPrivateUser, getUser } from 'shared/utils'
+import {APIError, APIHandler} from 'api/helpers/endpoint'
+import {filterDefined} from 'common/util/array'
+import {uniq} from 'lodash'
+import {createSupabaseDirectClient} from 'shared/supabase/init'
+import {addUsersToPrivateMessageChannel} from 'api/helpers/private-messages'
+import {getPrivateUser, getUser} from 'shared/utils'
+import * as admin from 'firebase-admin'
 
 export const createPrivateUserMessageChannel: APIHandler<
   'create-private-user-message-channel'
 > = async (body, auth) => {
+  // Do not use auth.creds.data as its info can be staled. It comes from a client token, which refreshes hourly or so
+  const user = await admin.auth().getUser(auth.uid)
+  // console.log(JSON.stringify(user, null, 2))
+  if (!user?.emailVerified) {
+    throw new APIError(
+      403,
+      'You must verify your email to contact people.'
+    )
+  }
+
   const userIds = uniq(body.userIds.concat(auth.uid))
 
   const pg = createSupabaseDirectClient()
@@ -41,11 +52,12 @@ export const createPrivateUserMessageChannel: APIHandler<
 
   const currentChannel = await pg.oneOrNone(
     `
-        select channel_id from private_user_message_channel_members
-          group by channel_id
-          having array_agg(user_id::text) @> array[$1]::text[]
-          and array_agg(user_id::text) <@ array[$1]::text[]
-      `,
+        select channel_id
+        from private_user_message_channel_members
+        group by channel_id
+        having array_agg(user_id::text) @> array [$1]::text[]
+           and array_agg(user_id::text) <@ array [$1]::text[]
+    `,
     [userIds]
   )
   if (currentChannel)
@@ -55,17 +67,19 @@ export const createPrivateUserMessageChannel: APIHandler<
     }
 
   const channel = await pg.one(
-    `insert into private_user_message_channels default values returning id`
+    `insert into private_user_message_channels default
+     values
+     returning id`
   )
 
   await pg.none(
     `insert into private_user_message_channel_members (channel_id, user_id, role, status)
-       values ($1, $2, 'creator', 'joined')
-      `,
+     values ($1, $2, 'creator', 'joined')
+    `,
     [channel.id, creatorId]
   )
 
   const memberIds = userIds.filter((id) => id !== creatorId)
   await addUsersToPrivateMessageChannel(memberIds, channel.id, pg)
-  return { status: 'success', channelId: Number(channel.id) }
+  return {status: 'success', channelId: Number(channel.id)}
 }
diff --git a/web/components/messaging/email-verification-prompt.tsx b/web/components/messaging/email-verification-prompt.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e28b7df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/components/messaging/email-verification-prompt.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import {Button} from 'web/components/buttons/button'
+import {Col} from 'web/components/layout/col'
+import {sendVerificationEmail} from 'web/lib/firebase/email-verification'
+import clsx from 'clsx'
+
+interface EmailVerificationPromptProps {
+  firebaseUser: any
+  t: any
+  className?: string
+}
+
+export function EmailVerificationPrompt(
+  {
+    firebaseUser,
+    t,
+    className
+  }: EmailVerificationPromptProps) {
+  return (
+    <Col className={clsx('gap-4 max-w-xl', className)}>
+      <h3>{t('messaging.email_verification_required', "You must verify your email to message people.")}</h3>
+      <Button color={'gray-outline'} onClick={() => sendVerificationEmail(firebaseUser!, t)} disabled={false}>
+        {t('settings.email.send_verification', 'Send verification email')}
+      </Button>
+    </Col>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/web/components/messaging/send-message-button.tsx b/web/components/messaging/send-message-button.tsx
index 52a5626..1c2bd50 100644
--- a/web/components/messaging/send-message-button.tsx
+++ b/web/components/messaging/send-message-button.tsx
@@ -15,9 +15,10 @@ import {MAX_COMMENT_LENGTH} from 'common/comment'
 import {CommentInputTextArea} from 'web/components/comments/comment-input'
 import {Title} from 'web/components/widgets/title'
 import {Row} from 'web/components/layout/row'
-import {firebaseLogin} from 'web/lib/firebase/users'
+import {auth, firebaseLogin} from 'web/lib/firebase/users'
 import {useT} from 'web/lib/locale'
 import {Tooltip} from "web/components/widgets/tooltip";
+import {EmailVerificationPrompt} from 'web/components/messaging/email-verification-prompt'
 
 export const SendMessageButton = (props: {
   toUser: User
@@ -25,11 +26,12 @@ export const SendMessageButton = (props: {
   includeLabel?: boolean
   circleButton?: boolean
 }) => {
-  const { toUser, currentUser, includeLabel, circleButton } = props
+  const {toUser, currentUser, includeLabel, circleButton} = props
+  const firebaseUser = auth.currentUser
   const router = useRouter()
   const privateUser = usePrivateUser()
   const channelMemberships = useSortedPrivateMessageMemberships(currentUser?.id)
-  const { memberIdsByChannelId } = channelMemberships
+  const {memberIdsByChannelId} = channelMemberships
   const t = useT()
 
   const [openComposeModal, setOpenComposeModal] = useState(false)
@@ -123,13 +125,15 @@ export const SendMessageButton = (props: {
           <Row className={'w-full'}>
             <Title className={'!mb-2'}>{t('send_message.title', 'Message')} {toUser.name}</Title>
           </Row>
-          <CommentInputTextArea
-            editor={editor}
-            user={currentUser}
-            submit={sendMessage}
-            isSubmitting={!editor || submitting}
-            submitOnEnter={false}
-          />
+          {firebaseUser?.emailVerified ? <CommentInputTextArea
+              editor={editor}
+              user={currentUser}
+              submit={sendMessage}
+              isSubmitting={!editor || submitting}
+              submitOnEnter={false}
+            /> :
+            <EmailVerificationPrompt firebaseUser={firebaseUser} t={t} className='max-w-xl'/>
+          }
           <span className={'text-red-500'}>{error}</span>
         </Col>
       </Modal>
diff --git a/web/lib/firebase/email-verification.ts b/web/lib/firebase/email-verification.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..284fedd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/lib/firebase/email-verification.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import toast from "react-hot-toast";
+import {sendEmailVerification, User} from "firebase/auth";
+
+
+export const sendVerificationEmail = async (
+  user: User,
+  t: any
+) => {
+  // if (!privateUser?.email) {
+  //   toast.error(t('settings.email.no_email', 'No email found on your account.'))
+  //   return
+  // }
+  if (!user) {
+    toast.error(t('settings.email.must_sign_in', 'You must be signed in to send a verification email.'))
+    return
+  }
+  toast
+    .promise(sendEmailVerification(user), {
+      loading: t('settings.email.sending', 'Sending verification email...'),
+      success: t('settings.email.verification_sent', 'Verification email sent — check your inbox and spam.'),
+      error: t('settings.email.verification_failed', 'Failed to send verification email.'),
+    })
+    .catch(() => {
+      console.error("Failed to send verification email")
+    })
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/web/messages/de.json b/web/messages/de.json
index 9da99a3..6b4e03f 100644
--- a/web/messages/de.json
+++ b/web/messages/de.json
@@ -822,6 +822,7 @@
   "settings.email.verification_failed": "Senden der Bestätigungs-E-Mail fehlgeschlagen.",
   "settings.email.verification_sent": "Bestätigungs-E-Mail gesendet – prüfen Sie Ihren Posteingang und Spam-Ordner.",
   "settings.email.verified": "E-Mail bestätigt ✔️",
+  "messaging.email_verification_required": "Sie müssen Ihre E-Mail überprüfen, um Personen zu schreiben.",
   "settings.general.account": "Konto",
   "settings.general.email": "E-Mail",
   "settings.general.language": "Sprache",
diff --git a/web/messages/fr.json b/web/messages/fr.json
index 039fbbf..438d0e7 100644
--- a/web/messages/fr.json
+++ b/web/messages/fr.json
@@ -822,6 +822,7 @@
   "settings.email.verification_failed": "Échec de l'envoi de l'e-mail de vérification.",
   "settings.email.verification_sent": "E-mail de vérification envoyé — vérifiez votre boîte de réception et les spams.",
   "settings.email.verified": "E-mail vérifié ✔️",
+  "messaging.email_verification_required": "Vous devez vérifier votre e-mail pour pouvoir envoyer des messages.",
   "settings.general.account": "Compte",
   "settings.general.email": "E-mail",
   "settings.general.language": "Langue",
diff --git a/web/pages/messages/index.tsx b/web/pages/messages/index.tsx
index f1d6a3c..5101beb 100644
--- a/web/pages/messages/index.tsx
+++ b/web/pages/messages/index.tsx
@@ -22,12 +22,15 @@ import {BannedBadge} from 'web/components/widgets/user-link'
 import {PrivateMessageChannel} from 'common/supabase/private-messages'
 import {SEO} from "web/components/SEO";
 import {useT} from 'web/lib/locale'
+import {auth} from "web/lib/firebase/users";
+import {EmailVerificationPrompt} from "web/components/messaging/email-verification-prompt";
 
 
 export default function MessagesPage() {
   useRedirectIfSignedOut()
 
   const currentUser = useUser()
+  const firebaseUser = auth.currentUser
   const t = useT()
   return (
     <PageBase trackPageView={'messages page'} className={'p-2'}>
@@ -36,7 +39,11 @@ export default function MessagesPage() {
         description={t('messages.seo.description', 'Your Messages')}
         url={`/messages`}
       />
-      {currentUser && <MessagesContent currentUser={currentUser}/>}        
+      {currentUser && (
+        firebaseUser?.emailVerified ?
+          <MessagesContent currentUser={currentUser}/>
+          : <EmailVerificationPrompt firebaseUser={firebaseUser} t={t}/>
+      )}
     </PageBase>
   )
 }
diff --git a/web/pages/settings.tsx b/web/pages/settings.tsx
index ecc7aa8..f4b3d12 100644
--- a/web/pages/settings.tsx
+++ b/web/pages/settings.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {useRedirectIfSignedOut} from "web/hooks/use-redirect-if-signed-out";
 import {deleteAccount} from "web/lib/util/delete";
 import router from "next/router";
 import {Button} from "web/components/buttons/button";
-import {sendEmailVerification, updateEmail} from 'firebase/auth';
+import {updateEmail} from 'firebase/auth';
 import {auth} from "web/lib/firebase/users";
 import {NotificationSettings} from "web/components/notifications";
 import ThemeIcon from "web/components/theme-icon";
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {AboutSettings} from "web/components/about-settings";
 import {LanguagePicker} from "web/components/language/language-picker";
 import {useT} from "web/lib/locale";
 import HiddenProfilesModal from 'web/components/settings/hidden-profiles-modal'
+import {sendVerificationEmail} from "web/lib/firebase/email-verification";
 
 export default function NotificationsPage() {
   const t = useT()
@@ -107,27 +108,6 @@ const LoadedGeneralSettings = (props: {
     changeUserEmail(data.newEmail)
   }
 
-
-  const sendVerificationEmail = async () => {
-    if (!privateUser?.email) {
-      toast.error(t('settings.email.no_email', 'No email found on your account.'))
-      return
-    }
-    if (!user) {
-      toast.error(t('settings.email.must_sign_in', 'You must be signed in to send a verification email.'))
-      return
-    }
-    toast
-      .promise(sendEmailVerification(user), {
-        loading: t('settings.email.sending', 'Sending verification email...'),
-        success: t('settings.email.verification_sent', 'Verification email sent — check your inbox and spam.'),
-        error: t('settings.email.verification_failed', 'Failed to send verification email.'),
-      })
-      .catch(() => {
-        console.log("Failed to send verification email")
-      })
-  }
-
   const isEmailVerified = user.emailVerified
 
   return <>
@@ -147,7 +127,8 @@ const LoadedGeneralSettings = (props: {
       <h3>{t('settings.general.account', 'Account')}</h3>
       <h5>{t('settings.general.email', 'Email')}</h5>
 
-      <Button color={'gray-outline'} onClick={sendVerificationEmail} disabled={!privateUser?.email || isEmailVerified}>
+      <Button color={'gray-outline'} onClick={() => sendVerificationEmail(user, t)}
+              disabled={!privateUser?.email || isEmailVerified}>
         {isEmailVerified ? t('settings.email.verified', 'Email Verified ✔️') : t('settings.email.send_verification', 'Send verification email')}
       </Button>