YouTube has begun testing an in-app direct messaging feature that allows users to share videos and chat about them within the mobile app. The experiment is currently active for users aged 18 and over in Ireland and Poland.
Details of the feature
According to YouTube’s support documentation, the new messaging feature lets users share long-form videos, Shorts, and live streams and engage in one-on-one chats without leaving the YouTube environment. To start a conversation, a user must invite another user and await approval. Recipients can decline invites and have the option to block or report chats.
YouTube emphasizes that messages will be subject to the same Community Guidelines as other content on the platform, and that automated systems may review message content for policy violations such as harassment or harmful material.
YouTube is reintroducing direct messaging
The company noted this test responds to what it described as a “top feature request” from its community. YouTube originally offered direct-messaging tools but discontinued them in 2019 while shifting focus toward public discussions and comment threads. The platform said maintaining the feature diverted resources from core communication tools, leading to its discontinuation after six years of availability.
Reintroducing the feature may be driven by other platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which have integrated stronger messaging and social features. The feature’s current rollout is limited in region and age eligibility, and YouTube has not announced a broader global rollout timeline.