This is how YouTube’s new sharing and chat function works on iOS

YouTube is rolling out a new sharing feature within its mobile apps. This allows you to share videos with others via chat windows. In this article we explain how it works.

New way of video sharing

The new feature was announced by YouTube on its blog on Monday. The company calls it ‘a better way to share videos’. For a time, the sharing option was available to only a small group of users. “Thanks to all the feedback, we’ve made improvements and are ready to roll out the feature globally.”

Now it is possible to share videos with family and friends directly in the YouTube app. The way this is done suddenly turns YouTube into even more of a chat app. When a video is shared within the app, others can play the video directly in the window and comment on it. YouTube probably hopes that users will choose to share videos directly within YouTube so that they don’t go to an external chat app.

This is how the YouTube chat function works

The share function is currently being rolled out to users. Not everyone will be able to use the option right away. If the update has already been implemented for you, the new parts will work as follows.

1. Open the YouTube app;
2. Choose a video you want to share;
3. Under the video, tap the share button (the arrow next to the thumbs);
4. Select the friends you want to send the video to;
5. Choose one person for a private chat or several people for a group (of maximum 30);
6. Create the chat.

In addition, a new ‘Shared’ window will appear at the bottom of the app, in which all conversations are bundled together. This way you can quickly find the chats.

React

Participants in conversations can of course respond with text, but it is also possible to do so with a heart or emoji next to the video. It is also possible for others to share videos within the chat, which can also be viewed directly in the window.

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