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Google rolling out messaging and sharing features for YouTube web

The features were previously available in the YouTube app, but now they're available to web users too.
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Published onMay 24, 2018

A screenshot of the new YouTube messaging interface on desktop.

Google is rolling out messaging and sharing features to some YouTube web users. The new functionality, previously available in the Activity tab in the YouTube app, was spotted earlier today by Android Police.

The update adds a Sharing icon on the website between the notifications (bell) icon and the apps button. Opening this brings up recent messages, while there’s also a Contacts tab that shows existing and potential contacts (they’re pulled from the account with which you’re registered to YouTube).

A screenshot of the new YouTube contacts interface on desktop.

Through this interface, you can message people and share videos; it’s similar to the Facebook Messenger setup when using Facebook on desktop.

The YouTube Share button also accommodates the new features, as you can see below.

A screenshot of the new YouTube sharing interface on desktop.

Many people will have shared YouTube videos with friends or colleagues in the past, but doing so between desktop and mobile devices can be tricky. Users might turn to something like WhatsApp Web or Pushbullet to achieve this normally. Therefore, a native, cross-platform option built into YouTube seems like a sensible addition.

That being said, your contacts will have to be on board with having one more interface to be contacted through, and some might be fed up with messaging apps already.

It looks like the update is hitting the web version of YouTube today, but it could take a week or so to appear for everyone.

Up next: YouTube Music begins slowly rolling out

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