Overview
- Access is rolling out to users 18 and older in Ireland and Poland on the YouTube mobile app.
- The test lets people share long‑form videos, Shorts and live streams, then continue the discussion in private one‑on‑one or group chats without leaving the app.
- Participation is opt‑in via invites, with controls to decline requests, block users, report conversations and unsend messages.
- Messages are subject to automated scanning and potential human review under YouTube’s Community Guidelines, including checks for content that could cause real‑world harm.
- External sharing through apps like WhatsApp and Messages remains unchanged, no broader rollout timeline has been announced, and the move revives DMs that YouTube discontinued in 2019 to better compete with rival platforms.