November 20, 2025, 2:14 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
In a new “experiment,” YouTube is testing a feature that existed years ago. It’s about direct messages, allowing users to communicate privately outside of comments. Apparently, it’s one of the “most requested features,” which is why the video platform is bringing it back.
New, Old Feature
In a community post on the Google Support Forum, YouTube announced a “test of new ways to share videos on YouTube.” A company employee promotes the feature as a way that “makes it easy for you to share videos you love.” This doesn’t immediately clarify what it’s about. Only the addition that you can discuss shared videos directly in the app provides clarity: YouTube is allowing direct messages again.
From 2017 to 2019, the app already had an integrated chat function. However, YouTube removed it in September 2019 to focus more on public interaction through comments, posts, and the now-discontinued Stories. As the company itself writes: “We constantly reassess our priorities”—apparently, there was a higher demand for a built-in chat than expected.
YouTube Brings Direct Messages Initially to Two Countries
Since this is a limited test run, the new chat is initially launching only in Ireland and Poland. Additionally, the feature is accessible only to adults aged 18 and over. The company likely relies on its AI-powered tools for age verification, which can identify underage users and automatically activate restrictions. Another requirement, according to the YouTube help page, is to be “logged into a YouTube channel” at least.
Users enabled for the chat function can receive an invitation link via the notification bell, “Invite others to share videos,” and send it to other people. Recipients can then allow or decline messages in the YouTube app. To receive notifications for new chat messages in the app, the corresponding permission must be granted in the smartphone settings.
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Users in the current test can continue to share videos as usual through other apps, but can also exchange messages directly in the YouTube app. The same community guidelines apply as those for comments or video content.