The YouTube streaming platform reintroduced the private messaging feature last year, which allows users to directly message and chat within the app itself. The function is currently only available in the mobile version of the application and is still in the testing phase.
This option is actually not completely new. Back in 2017, YouTube tried to introduce its own messaging system, but the feature was discontinued after two years. During the last year, the company decided to restart the idea, so testing first started in Ireland and Poland, with the restriction that the function can only be used by users over 18 years old.
YouTube expands test of private messages
The company has now enabled global testing of this function, so a total of 31 countries are included in the experiment. Among the new countries are: France, Germany and Italy, and most of the new regions come from Europe.
The company previously explained that the goal of this feature is not to turn YouTube into a classic messaging app. Instead, the idea is to enable a new way of sharing video content.
In practice, the user can send a video to a friend directly from the mobile application, after which a conversation opens within the messages. Before communication can begin, an invitation to chat must be sent, and the other party can decide whether to accept or decline it.
YouTube points out that this feature is purely experimental and not yet ready for wider global deployment.