A method, executed by one or more processors, includes receiving a message that is addressed to a user, determining, via one or more sensors, whether the user is occupied with an attention critical situation, and conducting a user-directed response process responsive to determining that the user is not occupied with an attention critical situation. In some embodiments, the user-directed response process includes conducting a text substitution process on the message, presenting an abbreviated version of the message and a list of response options to the user, determining a response option that is selected by the user, and sending a response to the message that corresponds to the response option that is selected by the user. In some embodiments, the list of response options includes a plurality of message-dependent formulated responses, a null response, and a spoken response. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed herein.