After YouTube discontinued the private messaging feature in 2019, the platform is now bringing this feature back for a select group of users.
Users with trial access can share videos directly on the mobile app, including long-form videos, shorts, and even live streams.
They’ll be able to tap the Share button to open a full-screen chat within the app, allowing them to start a private one-on-one or group chat. Friends can reply with a video of their own or just type a reply or use emojis.
The test is now available to users aged 18 and over in Ireland and Poland, the company says.
This is exciting news for many as currently, the only way to share YouTube videos is via text, email, WhatsApp, iMessage, Instagram DM or other messaging platforms. The company noted that in-app messaging was a “top feature request.”
When messaging was first removed, the reasoning behind the decision was not fully explained. It was estimated that the feature was underutilized, a common fate for many features that were eventually discontinued.
Another possibility could be that younger users often use this feature, which could be problematic for a platform that is frequently censored for inappropriate content, as well as concerns about child exploitation and offensive behavior.
This concern about children could be why YouTube chose to limit the test to adult users this time, and it may influence the decision to keep similar restrictions if the feature becomes more widely available in the future.
YouTube also implements standard security features, including requiring users to send invitations to each other before starting a conversation, as well as the ability to unsend messages, block others, and report conversations.
YouTube will also review posts to ensure they follow the same Community Guidelines that apply to videos and comments on the platform.
The experiment follows a similar feature launched by Spotify in August.
