YouTube is now experimenting again with adding direct messaging capabilities to its service. As detailed on an official support document, the company is piloting this feature to allow adult users to exchange and chat about videos. The initiative targets individuals 18 years or older located in Ireland and Poland. However, despite the private nature typically associated with direct messages, Google has indicated that content could be examined to verify compliance with the site's Community Guidelines.
This marks the second time the video-sharing giant has pursued built-in messaging. The platform introduced direct messages in its mobile application back in 2017, only to discontinue them two years later, prioritizing interactions through public comment threads instead. The current experiment focuses on internal video sharing via YouTube, leaving external sharing options unaffected. Bringing back the functionality after a six-year absence might appear unusual, yet Google describes it as a highly requested addition, potentially leading to wider rollout.