Could YouTube be the next to bring back DMs?
A latest test hints at a more social future for YouTube where users can share and chat about videos within the YouTube app.
YouTube is testing DMs
YouTube is testing support for a new built-in direct messaging feature. According to YouTube’s support page, select users in Ireland and Poland aged 18+ can now share videos and chat directly within the mobile app.
The test lets users share all formats too, whether its long-form videos, Shorts, and live streams.
While YouTube doesn’t directly call the feature “DMs”, that’s essentially what it is. It’s been one of the platform’s “top feature requests”, and now YouTube seems ready to fulfil those requests.
How does it work?
To start a chat on YouTube, users must first send someone an invite. They can accept or decline, and then you’re free to share videos and chat.
Of course, safety measures are still in place too. Users can block, report, and flag conversations. Plus, YouTube may review messages to ensure they align with Community Guidelines.
The bigger picture
As 9to5Google notes, this isn’t YouTube’s first go at messaging. The platform previously had built-in chat features for a few years before shutting them down in 2019. Now, with user demand and social behaviors shifting, a reintroduction could make sense. Think about other social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok which easily allow users to share and connect over content. YouTube would simply be joining that party.
It also follows a recent trend in the music industry, where streaming services are introducing more social elements into their platforms. Earlier this year, Spotify revived its in-app messaging feature that it had previously abandoned in 2017. More recently, Amazon Music began testing “Fan Groups” which lets its Canadian users share and chat about their favorite music in a community space, with a more global rollout expected later down the line.
Why this matters
This test carries real potential for artists and creators too. More ways to share videos privately means more natural, fan-driven discovery. If your music or Shorts gets passed between friends, that lets more people find your content. With any luck, that could help you grow your audience and fanbase.
In short, YouTube becoming even more social could translate into more visibility for your content.
Wrapping up
For now, YouTube DMs are only being tested in Ireland and Poland. There’s no news on a further rollout, and that likely depends on how users respond and whether any issues can be ironed out.
If it does roll out globally, YouTube may start resembling not just a video platform, but a more social space where fans can watch, talk, and share content in one place.
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