diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/page/JKMusicSessionsLobby.js b/jam-ui/src/components/page/JKMusicSessionsLobby.js
index d51b0f7ca..57bb9b5c2 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/page/JKMusicSessionsLobby.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/page/JKMusicSessionsLobby.js
@@ -1,39 +1,55 @@
-import React from 'react';
+import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
 import { Col, Row, Card, CardBody } from 'reactstrap';
 import FalconCardHeader from '../common/FalconCardHeader';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { useResponsive } from '@farfetch/react-context-responsive';
 import JKLobbyUserList from '../sessions/JKLobbyUserList';
 import JKLobbyChat from '../sessions/JKLobbyChat';
+import { useDispatch, useSelector } from 'react-redux';
+import { fetchOnlineMusicians } from '../../store/features/onlineMusiciansSlice';
+import { fetchUserLatencies } from '../../store/features/latencySlice';
+import { useAuth } from '../../context/UserAuth';
 
 function JKMusicSessionsLobby() {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const { greaterThan } = useResponsive();
+  const dispatch = useDispatch();
+  const { currentUser } = useAuth();
+
+  const onlineMusicians = useSelector(state => state.onlineMusician.musicians);
+  const loadingStatus = useSelector(state => state.onlineMusician.status);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    dispatch(fetchOnlineMusicians());
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (loadingStatus === 'succeeded' && onlineMusicians.length > 0) {
+      const userIds = onlineMusicians.map(p => p.id);
+      const options = { currentUserId: currentUser.id, participantIds: userIds };
+      dispatch(fetchUserLatencies(options));
+    }
+  }, [loadingStatus]);
 
   return (
-    
     <div>
       <>
         <Card>
           <FalconCardHeader title={t('lobby.page_title', { ns: 'sessions' })} titleClass="font-weight-bold" />
           <CardBody className="pt-0">
             {greaterThan.sm ? (
-            
-                <Row className="justify-content-between">
-                  <Col>
-                    <div className="table-responsive-xl px-2">
-                      <JKLobbyUserList />
-                    </div>
-                  </Col>
-                  <Col>
-                    <JKLobbyChat />
-                  </Col>
-                </Row>
-             
-            ) : (
-              <Row className="swiper-container d-block d-md-none" data-testid="sessionsSwiper">
-               
+              <Row className="justify-content-between">
+                <Col>
+                  <div className="table-responsive-xl px-2">
+                    <JKLobbyUserList loadingStatus={loadingStatus} onlineMusicians={onlineMusicians} />
+                  </div>
+                </Col>
+                <Col>
+                  <JKLobbyChat />
+                </Col>
               </Row>
+            ) : (
+              <Row className="swiper-container d-block d-md-none" data-testid="sessionsSwiper" />
             )}
           </CardBody>
         </Card>
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/profile/JKMoreDetailsButton.js b/jam-ui/src/components/profile/JKMoreDetailsButton.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d74e6983b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/profile/JKMoreDetailsButton.js
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { FontAwesomeIcon } from '@fortawesome/react-fontawesome';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+
+function JKMoreDetailsButton({ toggleMoreDetails, cssClasses, children}) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  return (
+    <a href="/#" onClick={toggleMoreDetails} data-testid="btnMore">
+      <span
+        className={cssClasses}
+        data-bs-toggle="tooltip"
+        title={t('view_profile', { ns: 'people' })}
+      >
+        {  children }
+      </span>
+    </a>
+  );
+}
+
+export default JKMoreDetailsButton;
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyChat.js b/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyChat.js
index f2fd29e04..0be9f7a85 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyChat.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyChat.js
@@ -1,21 +1,82 @@
-import React from 'react';
-import { Card, CardBody, CardFooter, CardHeader, CardText, CardTitle, Button } from 'reactstrap';
+import React, { useState, useRef, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { Container, Row, Col, Button } from 'reactstrap';
+import { useDispatch, useSelector } from 'react-redux';
+import { fetchLobbyChatMessages } from '../../store/features/lobbyChatMessagesSlice';
+import { useAuth } from '../../context/UserAuth';
 
 function JKLobbyChat() {
+  const CHANNEL_LOBBY = 'lobby';
+  const [newMessage, setNewMessage] = useState('');
+  const dispatch = useDispatch();
+  const messageTextBox = useRef();
+  const { currentUser } = useAuth();
+
+  const chatMessages = useSelector(state => state.lobbyChat.messages);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    dispatch(fetchLobbyChatMessages());
+  }, []);
+
+  const handleOnKeyPress = event => {
+    if (event.key === 'Enter' || event.key === 'NumpadEnter') {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      sendMessage();
+      event.target.value = '';
+    }
+  };
+
+  const sendMessage = () => {
+    let msgData = {
+      message: newMessage,
+      channel: CHANNEL_LOBBY,
+      user_id: currentUser.id,
+    };
+    setNewMessage('');
+
+    try {
+      //dispatch(postNewMessage(msgData));
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.log('addNewMessage error', err);
+    } finally {
+    }
+  };
+
   return (
-    // <Card
-    //   className="my-2"
-    // >
-    //   <CardHeader>Header</CardHeader>
-    //   <CardBody>
-    //     <CardTitle tag="h5">Special Title Treatment</CardTitle>
-    //     <CardText>With supporting text below as a natural lead-in to additional content.</CardText>
-    //     <Button>Go somewhere</Button>
-    //   </CardBody>
-    // </Card>
     <div>
-      <div className='bg-200 text-900' style={{ padding: '0.75rem'}}>Header</div>
-      <div className='border pt-1 pl-3 p-2'>Body</div>
+      <div className="bg-200 text-900" style={{ padding: '0.75rem' }}>
+        Lobby Chat
+      </div>
+      <div className="border pt-1 pl-3 p-2">
+        <Container>
+          <Row>
+            <Col>
+              {chatMessages.map((msg, index) => (
+                <div key={index}>
+                  <span className="text-primary">{msg.user_id}</span> : {msg.message}
+                </div>
+              ))} 
+            </Col>
+          </Row>
+          <Row>
+            <Col>
+              <textarea
+                style={{ width: '100%' }}
+                value={newMessage}
+                onChange={e => setNewMessage(e.target.value)}
+                onKeyPress={handleOnKeyPress}
+                ref={messageTextBox}
+              />
+            </Col>
+          </Row>
+          <Row>
+            <Col className="d-flex justify-content-end">
+              <Button color="primary" onClick={sendMessage} disabled={!newMessage}>
+                Send Message
+              </Button>
+            </Col>
+          </Row>
+        </Container>
+      </div>
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyUser.js b/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyUser.js
index afcc61ea4..691c38788 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyUser.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyUser.js
@@ -1,22 +1,71 @@
-import React from 'react';
+import React, { useState } from 'react';
 import { Row } from 'reactstrap';
-import JKProfileAvatar from '../profiles/JKProfileAvatar';
+import JKProfileAvatar from '../profile/JKProfileAvatar';
+import JKConnectButton from '../profile/JKConnectButton';
+import JKMessageButton from '../profile/JKMessageButton';
+import JKMoreDetailsButton from '../profile/JKMoreDetailsButton';
+import { FontAwesomeIcon } from '@fortawesome/react-fontawesome';
+import JKProfileSidePanel from '../profile/JKProfileSidePanel';
+import { useSelector, useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
+import { fetchPerson } from '../../store/features/peopleSlice';
+
+import { useAuth } from '../../context/UserAuth';
+
+function JKLobbyUser({ user }) {
+  const [showSidePanel, setShowSidePanel] = useState(false)
+  const { currentUser } = useAuth();
+  const dispatch = useDispatch();
+  const latencyData = useSelector(state => state.latency.latencies.find(l => l.user_id === user.id));
+  const userData = useSelector(state => state.people.people.find(p => p.id === user.id));
+
+  const toggleMoreDetails = async (e) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    try {
+      await dispatch(fetchPerson({ userId: user.id })).unwrap();
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.log(error);
+    }
+    setShowSidePanel(prev => !prev);
+  };
 
-function JKLobbyUser() {
   return (
-    <Row className="d-flex flex-row justify-content-between">
-      <input type="checkbox" className="align-middle" />
-      <div className="avatar avatar-sm">
-        <a href="/#" onClick={toggleMoreDetails}>
-          <JKProfileAvatar src={user.photo_url} />
-        </a>
-      </div>
-      <div className="ml-2 ms-2" style={{ width: '70%' }}>
-        <a href="/#" onClick={toggleMoreDetails}>
-          {user.name}
-        </a>
-      </div>
-    </Row>
+    <>
+    <tr>
+      <td className="align-middle">
+        <Row className="d-flex flex-row justify-content-between" style={{ alignItems: 'center' }}>
+          <input type="checkbox" className="align-middle" />
+          <div className="avatar avatar-sm">
+            <a href="/#" onClick={toggleMoreDetails}>
+              <JKProfileAvatar src={user.photo_url} />
+            </a>
+          </div>
+          <div className="ml-2 ms-2" style={{ width: '70%' }}>
+            <a href="/#" onClick={toggleMoreDetails}>
+              {user.name}
+            </a>
+          </div>
+        </Row>
+      </td>
+      <td className="align-middle text-center">
+        <JKConnectButton
+          currentUser={currentUser}
+          user={user}
+          addContent={<FontAwesomeIcon icon="plus" transform="shrink-4 down-1" className="mr-1" />}
+          removeContent={<FontAwesomeIcon icon="minus" transform="shrink-4 down-1" className="mr-1" />}
+          cssClasses="fs--1 px-2 py-1 mr-1"
+        />
+
+        <JKMessageButton currentUser={currentUser} user={user} cssClasses="fs--1 px-2 py-1 mr-1">
+          <FontAwesomeIcon icon="comments" transform="shrink-4 down-1" className="mr-1" />
+        </JKMessageButton>
+
+        <JKMoreDetailsButton toggleMoreDetails={toggleMoreDetails} cssClasses="btn btn-primary fs--1 px-2 py-1">
+          <FontAwesomeIcon icon="user" transform="shrink-4 down-1" className="mr-1" />
+        </JKMoreDetailsButton>
+      </td>
+    </tr>
+    <JKProfileSidePanel user={userData} latencyData={latencyData} show={showSidePanel} setShow={setShowSidePanel} />
+    </>
   );
 }
 
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyUserList.js b/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyUserList.js
index 8fe18b2d5..c34028b1d 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyUserList.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/sessions/JKLobbyUserList.js
@@ -2,32 +2,40 @@ import React from 'react';
 import { Table } from 'reactstrap';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import JKLobbyUser from './JKLobbyUser';
+import { isIterableArray } from '../../helpers/utils';
+import Loader from '../common/Loader';
 
-function JKLobbyUserList() {
+function JKLobbyUserList({ loadingStatus, onlineMusicians}) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
+ 
   return (
-    <Table striped bordered className="fs--1" data-testid="sessionsLobbyUsersTable">
-      <thead className="bg-200 text-900">
-        <tr>
-          <th width="35%" scope="col">
-            {t('lobby.header.musician', { ns: 'sessions' })}
-          </th>
-          <th scope="col" className="text-center">
-            {t('actions', { ns: 'common' })}
-          </th>
-        </tr>
-      </thead>
-      <tbody className="list">
-        <tr>
-          <td className="align-middle">
-            <JKLobbyUser />
-          </td>
-          <td className="align-middle text-center">
-            Actions
-          </td>
-        </tr>
-      </tbody>
-    </Table>
+    <>
+      {loadingStatus === 'loading' && onlineMusicians.length === 0 ? (
+        <Loader />
+      ) : (
+        <Table striped bordered className="fs--1" data-testid="sessionsLobbyUsersTable">
+          <thead className="bg-200 text-900">
+            <tr>
+              <th width="35%" scope="col">
+                {t('lobby.header.musician', { ns: 'sessions' })}
+              </th>
+              <th scope="col" className="text-center">
+                {t('actions', { ns: 'common' })}
+              </th>
+            </tr>
+          </thead>
+          <tbody className="list">
+            {isIterableArray(onlineMusicians) ? (
+              onlineMusicians.map(musician => <JKLobbyUser key={musician.id} user={musician} />)
+            ) : (
+              <tr>
+                <td colSpan={2}>No users currently online.</td>
+              </tr>
+            )}
+          </tbody>
+        </Table>
+      )}
+    </>
   );
 }
 
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/helpers/rest.js b/jam-ui/src/helpers/rest.js
index d56349631..9ec8d00e1 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/helpers/rest.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/helpers/rest.js
@@ -35,6 +35,14 @@ export const getPeople = ({ data, offset, limit } = {}) => {
   })
 }
 
+export const getPeopleIndex = () => {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    apiFetch(`/users`)
+    .then(response => resolve(response))
+    .catch(error => reject(error))
+  })
+}
+
 export const getGenres = () => {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     apiFetch('/genres')
@@ -107,6 +115,17 @@ export const createTextMessage = (options) => {
   })
 }
 
+export const createLobbyChatMessage = (options) => {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    apiFetch(`/chat`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      body: JSON.stringify(options)
+    })
+    .then(response => resolve(response))
+    .catch(error => reject(error))
+  })
+}
+
 export const getNotifications = (userId, options = {}) => {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     apiFetch(`/users/${userId}/notifications?${new URLSearchParams(options)}`)
@@ -153,3 +172,11 @@ export const getLatencyToUsers = (currentUserId, participantIds) => {
     .catch(error => reject(error))
   })
 }
+
+export const getLobbyChatMessages = (options = {}) => {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    apiFetch(`/chat_messages?${new URLSearchParams(options)}`)
+    .then(response => resolve(response))
+    .catch(error => reject(error))
+  })
+}
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/hooks/useMessage.js b/jam-ui/src/hooks/useMessage.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a59442b5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jam-ui/src/hooks/useMessage.js
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { useDispatch, useSelector } from 'react-redux';
+import { fetchMessagesByReceiverId, postNewMessage } from '../../store/features/textMessagesSlice';
+
+export const useMessage = () => {
+  const messages = useSelector(state =>
+    state.textMessage.messages
+      .filter(
+        message =>
+          (message.senderId === user.id && message.receiverId === window.currentUser.id) ||
+          (message.senderId === window.currentUser.id && message.receiverId === user.id)
+      )
+      .sort((a, b) => {
+        return new Date(a.createdAt) - new Date(b.createdAt);
+      })
+  );
+
+  const fetchMessages = async () => {
+    try {
+      const options = { userId: user.id, offset: offset, limit: LIMIT };
+      setFetching(true);
+      await dispatch(fetchMessagesByReceiverId(options)).unwrap();
+      if(messages.length < LIMIT){
+        goToBottom();
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.log('ERROR', err);
+    } finally {
+      setFetching(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const sendMessage = () => {
+    let msgData = {
+      message: newMessage,
+      target_user_id: user.id,
+      source_user_id: currentUser.id
+    };
+    setNewMessage('');
+
+    try {  
+      dispatch(postNewMessage(msgData));
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.log('ERROR', err);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return { messages, fetchMessages, sendMessage}
+}
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/store/features/latencySlice.js b/jam-ui/src/store/features/latencySlice.js
index 1131fa6cb..493b211b1 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/store/features/latencySlice.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/store/features/latencySlice.js
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export const latencySlice = createSlice({
       const unique = [];
       records.map(x => unique.filter(a => a.user_id === x.user_id).length > 0 ? null : unique.push(x))
       state.latencies = unique
+      state.status = 'succeeded'
     })
     .addCase(fetchUserLatencies.rejected, (state, action) => {
       console.log("_DEBUG_ fail fetchUserLatencies", action.payload);
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/store/features/lobbyChatMessagesSlice.js b/jam-ui/src/store/features/lobbyChatMessagesSlice.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2db59b828
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jam-ui/src/store/features/lobbyChatMessagesSlice.js
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { createSlice, createAsyncThunk } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
+import { getLobbyChatMessages, createLobbyChatMessage } from '../../helpers/rest';
+
+export const fetchLobbyChatMessages = createAsyncThunk('chatMessage/fetchLobbyChatMessages', async (options, thunkAPI) => {
+  const response = await getLobbyChatMessages(options);
+  return response.json();
+});
+
+export const postNewChatMessage = createAsyncThunk('chatMessage/postNewChatMessage', async (options, thunkAPI) => {
+  const response = await createLobbyChatMessage(options);
+  return response.json();
+});
+
+const chatMessagesSlice = createSlice({
+  name: 'chatMessages',
+  initialState: {
+    messages: [],
+    status: 'idel',
+    error: null
+  },
+  reducers: {
+    addMessage(state, action) {
+      state.messages.push(action.payload);
+    }
+  },
+  extraReducers: builder => {
+    builder
+      .addCase(fetchLobbyChatMessages.pending, (state, action) => {
+        state.status = 'loading';
+      })
+      .addCase(fetchLobbyChatMessages.fulfilled, (state, action) => {
+        const records = [...state.messages, ...action.payload.messages];
+        state.messages = records;
+        state.status = 'succeeded';
+      })
+      .addCase(fetchLobbyChatMessages.rejected, (state, action) => {
+        state.error = action.payload;
+        state.status = 'failed';
+      })
+      .addCase(postNewChatMessage.fulfilled, (state, action) => {
+        state.messages.push(action.payload);
+      })
+  }
+});
+
+export const { addMessage } = chatMessagesSlice.actions;
+
+export default chatMessagesSlice.reducer;
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/store/features/onlineMusiciansSlice.js b/jam-ui/src/store/features/onlineMusiciansSlice.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..56412d1f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jam-ui/src/store/features/onlineMusiciansSlice.js
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import {createSlice, createAsyncThunk} from "@reduxjs/toolkit";
+import { getPeopleIndex } from "../../helpers/rest";
+
+const initialState = {
+  musicians: [],
+  status: 'idle',
+  error: null,
+}
+
+export const fetchOnlineMusicians = createAsyncThunk(
+  'onlineMusician/fetchMusicians',
+  async (options, thunkAPI) => {
+    const response = await getPeopleIndex(options)
+    return response.json()
+  }
+)
+
+export const onlineMusiciansSlice = createSlice({
+  name: 'onlineMusicians',
+  initialState,
+  reducers: {
+    add: (state, action) => {
+      state.musicians.push(action.payload)
+    },
+    remove: (state, action) => {
+      state.musicians = state.musicians.filter(musician => musician.id !== action.payload.id)
+    }
+  },
+  extraReducers: (builder) => {
+    builder
+    .addCase(fetchOnlineMusicians.pending, (state, action) => {
+      state.status = 'loading'
+    })
+    .addCase(fetchOnlineMusicians.fulfilled, (state, action) => {
+      state.status = 'succeeded'
+      state.musicians = action.payload
+    })
+    .addCase(fetchOnlineMusicians.rejected, (state, action) => {
+      state.status = 'failed'
+      state.error = action.payload
+    })
+  }
+})
+
+export default onlineMusiciansSlice.reducer
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/store/features/textMessagesSlice.js b/jam-ui/src/store/features/textMessagesSlice.js
index b37a45434..ee7538df6 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/store/features/textMessagesSlice.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/store/features/textMessagesSlice.js
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ export const textMessageSlice = createSlice({
         const unique = [];
         mergedMsgs.map(x => unique.filter(a => a.id === x.id).length > 0 ? null : unique.push(x));
         state.messages = unique
-        console.log("fetchMessagesByReceiverId.fulfilled");
       })
       .addCase(fetchMessagesByReceiverId.rejected, (state, action) => {
         state.status = 'failed'
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/store/store.js b/jam-ui/src/store/store.js
index 113b40565..a5bee3afe 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/store/store.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/store/store.js
@@ -1,16 +1,20 @@
 import { configureStore } from "@reduxjs/toolkit"
 import textMessageReducer from "./features/textMessagesSlice"
-import peopleSlice from "./features/peopleSlice"
-import sessionSlice from "./features/sessionsSlice"
-import notificationSlice from './features/notificationSlice'
-import latencySlice from "./features/latencySlice"
+import lobbyChatMessagesReducer from "./features/lobbyChatMessagesSlice"
+import peopleReducer from "./features/peopleSlice"
+import onlineMusicianReducer from "./features/onlineMusiciansSlice"
+import sessionReducer from "./features/sessionsSlice"
+import notificationReducer from './features/notificationSlice'
+import latencyReducer from "./features/latencySlice"
 
 export default configureStore({
   reducer: {
     textMessage: textMessageReducer,
-    people: peopleSlice,
-    notification: notificationSlice,
-    session: sessionSlice,
-    latency: latencySlice
+    people: peopleReducer,
+    notification: notificationReducer,
+    session: sessionReducer,
+    latency: latencyReducer,
+    onlineMusician: onlineMusicianReducer,
+    lobbyChat: lobbyChatMessagesReducer
   }
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/chat_message.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/chat_message.rb
index 07baa73f0..e7c125d8f 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/chat_message.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/chat_message.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ module JamRuby
 
     CHANNEL_SESSION = 'session'
     CHANNEL_LESSON = 'lesson'
+    CHANNEL_LOBBY = 'lobby'
     self.table_name = 'chat_messages'
     self.primary_key = 'id'
 
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/musician_search.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/musician_search.rb
index 76da51354..31321066a 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/musician_search.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/musician_search.rb
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ module JamRuby
     def do_filter(user_ids)
       rel = User.musicians.where('users.id <> ?', self.user.id)
 
-      #user_ids parameter is used to track users returned from neo4j user's latency data service. #if this variable is not null means we are calling this method with neo4j latency data (currently this call only comes from api_search_controller#filter)
+      #user_ids: users returned from neo4j latency data service. #if this variable is not null, that means we are calling this method with neo4j latency data (currently this call only comes from api_search_controller#filter)
       #debugger
 
       unless user_ids.nil?