YouTube is expanding its direct messaging (DM) feature experiment to more regions, but it’s still in limited testing as of March 2026.
The DM feature was first introduced in 2017 but was discontinued two years later.
It returned last November in a limited test phase, initially available only in Poland and Ireland, and the latest expansion now extends the experiment to 31 countries across Europe.
Users in supported regions are seeing a new welcome screen introducing direct messaging on the platform.
The feature allows users to share videos, including long-form content, Shorts, and live streams, and chat directly within the app instead of switching to external messaging services.
To use the feature, users must be at least 18 years old and signed in to their YouTube account.
Messaging works through an invite system, where users can send invitations to friends and start conversations after the invite is accepted. Notifications are sent once an invitation is approved.
As mentioned, the rollout remains limited to select regions, and it is not yet available in the Philippines and most other regions outside Europe.
Also, there is no specific timeline for wider availability yet. Stay tuned for more updates!
ManilaShaker is a tech media producing insightful and helpful content for our local and growing international audience. Our goal is to create a premier Philippine digital consumer electronics resource that provides the most objective reviews and comparisons globally.
