YouTube's in-app sharing lets you talk with your friends about that stupid cat video

Up until now, you could already share YouTube videos with other folks, but it looks like Google wants you to do that without having to leave the actual YouTube app with its in-app messaging feature.

Similar to what Instagram already has implemented with its direct messaging feature, the YouTube app now lets you pull up your contacts to directly send them videos. Alternatively, you can send an invite link to those not listed as a contact, with either method starting an in-app message thread. This conversation can either be with one other person or multiple people, with everyone able to search and send videos in the same thread.

Since YouTube is a video app, it makes sense for you to, apart from text and emoji, only add other videos in its conversation threads – you cannot send images to each other. The in-app messaging feature also allows you to add hearts to videos and messages sent in chats, though it is unknown whether there will be additional reactions in future updates.

Either way, it looks like Google is very busy tinkering with its YouTube mobile app in various aspects. For one, the search giant announced that a future app update will allow videos to fill up your screen, regardless of how the video is formatted. With several current and eventual smartphones featuring longer displays in an effort to minimize bezels, the update is sure to be a welcome one.

It also appears as if Google is testing out the ability to control a video’s playback speed. This has been available on YouTube’s desktop site for years, but it is a feature that might eventually make its way to the mobile app.

As for YouTube’s in-app messaging feature, it has been available in Canada since the beginning of 2017, but will make its way to folks around the world during the coming days.