YouTube is Bringing Back Direct Messages Years After Killing It

YouTube has been steadily adding new features and improvements to its platform in recent months. It is continuing to expand beyond just video streaming. Now, it looks like another feature could be on the way. New hints suggest YouTube might bring back Direct Messages (DMs) inside the app.

YouTube brings back DMs after 7 years since its removal

According to a report from @vidIQ, YouTube is testing bringing direct messaging back to the platform. This could potentially allow users to communicate privately again. 

Interestingly, YouTube once had its own messaging system built directly into the mobile app in mid-2017. The feature allowed users to send videos privately and chat with friends inside YouTube. However, the company decided to shut it down in 2019.

In September 2019, the ability to direct-message friends or other content creators on YouTube was removed entirely from the app. According to reports at the time, the company wanted users to focus more on public interactions. For example, they might have encouraged comments and sharing videos through other platforms.

Direct Messaging could return in a new form on YouTube

But now YouTube may be reconsidering that decision, potentially allowing users to communicate privately again. This time, however, the feature could arrive in a more modern form, possibly designed to support creators and communities better.

For now, there’s no official confirmation from YouTube about when or if the feature will launch widely. However, it is already available in 31 European countries. It is not available yet in the US, but if the tests go well in Europe, we might get a release date for the US as well. Some Reddit users reportedly got the Direct Messaging feature on YouTube.

If YouTube does bring back messaging, it would represent a notable comeback for a feature the platform removed more than five years ago, and one that many users likely forgot ever existed.