YouTube is introducing DMs (again)

YouTube is reintroducing backstage messaging aft testing caller ways for users to stock videos and “have conversations astir them” past year. In an announcement connected its charismatic blog, YouTube says it’s now starting to grow the in-app video sharing and messaging characteristic to users successful the US and “other world regions” who are 18 aliases older.

The video sharing level had antecedently introduced backstage messaging successful 2017, earlier discontinuing it conscionable 2 years later to attraction connected nationalist conversations for illustration the Instagram-like Stories feature — which it besides killed successful 2023. When it started testing its latest in-app messaging capabilities successful November 2025, YouTube said it was a “top characteristic request.”

There are immoderate differences pinch the caller messaging system, however: YouTube users are required to verify their property earlier accessing the feature, and tin only talk pinch a personification aft sending them an invitation nexus via third-party messaging platforms. The chat characteristic tin beryllium accessed by tapping the “Messages” icon astatine the apical correct of the YouTube app, which will past supply an invitation link. The measurement this strategy is group up suggests that it’s trying to support you chatting pinch group you already know, alternatively of encouraging conversations betwixt random YouTube users.

“Our organization loves to stock videos pinch their friends and family, and we want them to beryllium capable to do it successful 1 place,” YouTube said successful the announcement. “Whether it’s a caller euphony video, a adjuvant tutorial, aliases a funny Short, this update will springiness users a caller measurement to stock correct wherever they’re watching.”

YouTube says its organization guidelines will use to each shared contented and messages that are exchanged utilizing the characteristic and that it’s looking to grow “even further soon.”