YouTube removes option to send private messages as of September 18

Google is discontinuing the messaging feature in YouTube introduced in 2017. From September 18, YouTube users will no longer be able to use the feature to share videos with each other and, for example, discuss videos.

A Google employee reports on a support page that the built-in messaging function will disappear on September 18, but does not elaborate on the reasons for the removal. He does point out that YouTube has also recently focused on public conversations in the comments and YouTube Stories. So Google seems to focus mainly on that; probably the messaging function wasn’t used very much either. YouTube Stories is similar to Instagram Stories and is available to users with at least ten thousand followers.

The option to message other users appeared for the mobile app in 2017 and also for the web version of YouTube in May 2018. It is primarily a quick method of sharing videos with others, allowing conversations with individuals and groups. The function is integrated with the search function of the video platform, so that videos can also be found via the search history.

Google states that sharing videos in YouTube will still be possible after September 18, by clicking share on the YouTube video page and then clicking the icon of the desired social medium.