YouTube is testing an in-app private messaging feature again. The test is limited to users aged 18 and over in Ireland and Poland. Eligible users can share long-form videos, Shorts, and live streams inside the app and start private one-on-one chats or group chats.
What is new
The new sharing flow opens a full-screen chat when a user taps Share. People can reply with text emojis or a short video of their own. The test covers mobile on iOS and Android. YouTube says this experiment responds to repeated user requests for in-app messaging.
YouTube first tried in-app messaging before and removed the feature in 2019. The company removed it as public conversations and comments took priority. This new test differs because it requires mutual invites and it is limited to adults in the two test countries.
How it works
When you tap Share, you will see an option to start a chat. That chat shows the shared video and a thread of replies. Friends can react with simple text or record a quick reply video. The system aims to keep people inside YouTube instead of sending links to other apps.
YouTube also builds in safety tools. Users must accept an invite before a chat begins. Users can unsend messages, block others,
s, and report conversations. YouTube will review messages for policy violations under the existing community rules. These controls are part of the reason the test is limited to adult accounts for now.
Why it matters
The reintroduction of messaging into the application can alter the way in which individuals share videos. Producers will be in a better position to distribute clips to intimate audiences. The audience can spend more time in the application since conversations take place in the app. Meanwhile, the test will be monitored by the safety and privacy of the testing by YouTube and regulators.
Provided that the experiment is expanded, it may be rolled out to other countries over time. Before any widespread launch, YouTube will most probably quantify misuse indicators and interaction information. Currently, the users who are older than 18 in Ireland and Poland can test the feature and provide feedback to YouTube.