YouTube is not the platform you normally associate with messaging. Messaging on YouTube was so unpopular that the company removed it in July 2018.
Fortunately, there are ways to communicate with your favorite YouTube creators. This article will guide you through the various options for messaging YouTubers and friends on the platform.
How to send a message to a creator on YouTube
Since there is no longer a chat option on YouTube, we had to find alternative means of messaging YouTubers. Here are the alternatives:
- Send email to business inquiry email
- Find a link to another social media site with DM capabilities
- Comment on a video
Depending on your goals, you can probably get in touch with the YouTuber you’re interested in. The following sections will explain in detail how to open the lines of communication.
How to Find a YouTuber’s Email Address
Some YouTubers include an email address for fans to send email communications. This is the easiest method to message a YouTuber. Here’s what you need to do:
- Open YouTube and navigate to the YouTuber’s channel. Then click About.
- Scroll down the page and select View email address next to For commercial inquiries.
- Check the I am not a robot box. Then click Deliver.
- Click on the email address and start typing your message (your email should open automatically, but if not, copy and paste the email address).
Now all you need to do is keep an eye on your email for a response.
Send a message on social networks
Many YouTubers take advantage of all types of social networks to advertise and communicate with their fans. Assuming the creator linked other social media accounts, you can easily message them there. Here’s what you need to do:
- Open YouTube and navigate to the channel that interests you.
- Navigate to the bottom right corner of the channel banner. Here you should see the links that the YouTuber has added to their channel.
- You can also scroll to the end of the About page to view linked accounts.
- Click on the links and a new window will open. Make sure you are logged in to the platform and send a DM.
Hopefully the creator will notice your other accounts and respond quickly to your message.
Comment on a video
If none of the other options help, you can always resort to commenting on one of the creator’s videos and hoping they watch it. Although it is not the most eloquent solution, we must work with the options that YouTube offers us.
Here’s how to comment on a YouTube video:
- Open YouTube and navigate to the channel of the user you want to talk to. Then click on one of your videos.
- Click on the Comment box and write a comment. Then, click Enter on your keyboard.
It’s probably not a good idea for everyone on YouTube to know your contact information, so it’s best to ask the YouTuber how you can contact them or if they upload content on another platform.
Message a YouTube creator on a mobile device
If you’re using the mobile version of YouTube, you can comment on videos or search for affiliate links (Twitter, Discord, etc. But you can’t access the creator’s email. You’ll have to use the browser version of YouTube to email the creator. .
To find the About section on the mobile version of YouTube, follow these steps:
- Open YouTube and navigate to the users channel.
- At the top of the window you will see Home, Videos, Playlistsand Channels. This is a dropdown menu with more options hidden on the right. Scroll to About.
- Now, you can click the link to an external social media site and send a message to the creator.
Some tips and tricks for the road
Observed time
Go to your account and select Watch Time to see how many hours you’ve spent watching videos. The menu also gives you the option to be reminded to take a break if you get carried away.
YouTube Stories
You may not know it, but YouTube also jumped on the stories bandwagon. Tap Subscriptions on a mobile device and swipe up to Stories. Tap the story you like and swipe left or right to see more.
Restricted mode
There is very little content that can be labeled as adults only on YouTube. Still, if you’re worried about the videos your kids watch, go to Settings and change Restricted Mode to in.
Write, send, reply
With more messaging options available on the mobile app, YouTube appears to be encouraging users to chat across the platform. Although simple and easy to use, YouTube messages don’t come close to Facebook Messenger or Instagram DM.
You’d probably start using YouTube messages more if the platform allowed direct messages to YouTubers who aren’t your friends. Anyway, have you ever messaged someone on YouTube? If so, send us a comment below.
