YouTube is now testing their own messaging feature in the mobile app so that sharing funny cat videos to friends can be made easier than before.
Almost everyone has that one conversation about a hilarious YouTube video or about the latest trailer for an upcoming movie which can be seen on the video hosting site. On a computer, it's easy to share links with just a few clicks.
On smartphones, however, the user would have to leave his or her browser and YouTube app just to copy and paste the link to their messenger of choice. Now, YouTube is bridging that gap with their own messaging feature inside the app.
The feature is called native sharing and it is already being tested by a select few users, WIRED has learned. Users will be able to instantly share the YouTube video that they are watching and their friends can also join in on the conversation; all without leaving the YouTube app.
In addition, the users can also reply with a video link of their own. Friends can best each other at showing the funniest video they can see in a day.
YouTube's new tactic might lead to an increase in their mobile users. The app already has an average mobile viewing session from its users for about 40 minutes, TechCrunch reported.
Android and iOS users will be able to see the feature once it is done being tested by a percentage of the mobile app users. This means that users on iPhone or the latest Galaxy S7 Edge will be able to share video links with teach other through the app's messaging feature.
Facebook is already targeting mobile video with their own Live streaming feature. A percentage of their multi-billion user base is now using the feature to communicate better with their friends.
YouTube has even made some ads unskippable on their videos. This may have caused a brief uproar in the users as their time could be wasted.
With the new messenger feature on YouTube's own app, the company will be able to milk more out of their users. However, the feature is still currently being tested and there is no time frame announced as to when they will be rolling it out to the public.