YouTube is exploring a new feature that will let creators reply to video comments with voice messages. The platform has rolled out this experimental tool to a limited group of creators, offering a more personal way to engage with their viewers.
"We’re experimenting with a feature that enables creators to reply to comments with their voice. If you’re a creator in the test group, you can click the sound wave icon when responding to a comment > record a voice reply > then post it as a comment. While we gather feedback in the experiment phase, voice replies can only be left by creators on their own channel via the YouTube app on iOS, but all viewers and creators can engage with these comments. This test is rolling out to a small number of creators in the US. We hope that the voice reply experiment enables more meaningful relationships between creators and their audiences 🔊! "
The voice replies function like regular comments, allowing viewers to react, like, or reply.
Currently, the feature is exclusive to the iOS app and is limited to the creator’s own videos. Playback is also restricted; while mobile users on devices like iPhones and Android phones can hear these voice replies, desktop browsers don’t yet support this functionality.
YouTube has framed this trial as a way to foster “more meaningful relationships” between creators and their audiences. While the feature is still in its testing phase, its rollout hints at YouTube’s ongoing focus on diversifying the ways creators can connect with their communities.
It remains unclear if or when the feature will be expanded to a broader audience or other platforms.
