YouTube is testing the return of a direct messaging feature inside its mobile app, nearly six years after removing it. The company has launched a small pilot program that allows selected users to privately share videos and chat about them within the platform.
The test introduces a built-in chat system that YouTube says will offer “new ways to share videos.” For now, the feature is only available to adults in Ireland and Poland, and access is limited to a very small group. YouTube described the rollout as a cautious first step before considering a wider release.
This is not the first time YouTube has experimented with messaging. The company launched an in-app DM system in 2017 but shut it down two years later to focus on public comments. According to YouTube, private messaging has continued to be “a top feature request,” which led to this new pilot.
YouTube says the new chat feature will include clear limits. The company warns that messages will not be entirely private. YouTube’s systems may scan chats for harmful or policy-violating content, and flagged messages may be reviewed by human moderators. The company says this is necessary to enforce Community Guidelines within private conversations.
YouTube has not said when, or if, the feature will expand beyond the initial test regions. The company is collecting feedback and monitoring how moderation, technical performance, and user behavior develop before making any decision about broader availability.
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