YouTube is finally rolling out direct messages in the US, expanding a feature that’s been quietly tested across Europe over the past year.
The new messaging system is available in the YouTube mobile app for users aged 18 and older. This marks another attempt by the platform to bring private conversations back into an app that has mostly leaned into public comments since 2019.
This isn’t YouTube’s first go at DMs. The company originally launched direct messaging back in 2017, only to shut it down two years later. They did this in favour of keeping conversations public under videos. Now, it looks like YouTube has changed its mind again. They are rebuilding the feature based on user demand and feedback from earlier test markets like Ireland and Poland. After that, the feature is gradually expanding across Europe.
The idea this time is less about reinventing messaging and more about making it easier to share content in the moment. Instead of jumping between apps to send links, users can tap a Messages button in the top right of the YouTube app. They can then start an invite and send it directly to another user. The recipient then decides whether to accept or decline the chat request. This keeps some control over who can reach them.
That “invite to chat” system feels like YouTube’s way of avoiding the spam problems that often come with open messaging platforms. However, it still allows one-to-one conversations to happen when both sides agree.
In practice, YouTube is clearly positioning this around video sharing. While most people already rely on WhatsApp, iMessage, Instagram or Discord to send clips around, YouTube’s pitch is that keeping conversations inside the app makes it faster to react, comment and continue watching without switching platforms. That said, the company is also upfront that you’ll still be able to share videos through other apps as usual. So this isn’t replacing anything, just adding another option.
The rollout also suggests YouTube is still experimenting with how social it actually wants to be. Over the years, it’s swung between pushing public engagement through comments and Shorts. Now, it is gently reintroducing private messaging as a complement to that ecosystem.
For now, the feature is limited to US users, but YouTube says it plans to expand testing further. If past rollouts are anything to go by, it likely won’t stay a small experiment for long.
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