YouTube is removing the ability for its users to direct message each other – focusing on public conversations instead.
YouTube rolled out direct messaging in August 2017 as a way for users to share more videos and share directly within its mobile app. Two years on, priorities have shifted, and the company is now pulling the plug on the feature. After September 18, users’ ability to direct message on YouTube will no longer be available.
In a recent YouTube help post, a spokesperson explained:
“Two years ago, we launched a feature to enable you to share videos via direct messages on YouTube. Since then, we’ve also focused on public conversations with updates to comments, posts and stories. We’re constantly reevaluating our priorities and have decided to discontinue YouTube’s native direct-messaging feature while we focus on improving public conversations.”
Users can, of course, still share YouTube videos. Here’s how:
1. Go to the video watch page on any device
2. Click “Share”
3. Click on the “social network icon” from which you want to share a video