YouTube adds long-awaited messaging feature for selected users

YouTube has started testing a new feature that users have been requesting for years. This YouTube messaging feature update reinstates the option to send messages directly within the app, a feature that YouTube removed in 2019.

The company is currently testing this feature with a limited number of users. Those with access can share videos through messages within the YouTube mobile app. They can tap the share button, open a full-screen chat window, and start a one-on-one chat or a group chat.

Also Read: Meta warns Australian teens to save data before 16+ ban

Users in the test can reply to shared videos with their own videos, emojis, or text messages. According to YouTube, this feature is being tested mainly in Ireland and Poland for now. The goal is to make video sharing and conversations easier without needing external apps.

For many users, this update is welcome because YouTube videos are currently shared mostly through SMS, email, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, or other messaging apps. YouTube also mentioned that bringing back this feature was one of the most requested demands from users after it was removed in 2019.

Read More: WhatsApp Tests New Feature for Switching Multiple Accounts

During the testing phase of this YouTube messaging feature update, only users aged 18 and above can use it, and an invite is required before starting a chat. The update also includes unsend message options, block and report tools, and full enforcement of YouTube’s community guidelines for all chats.