YouTube is making it easier for creators to interact with their audience by expanding its Communities feature—a dedicated space designed for real-time engagement. Originally introduced at the Made on YouTube event in September 2024, this feature aims to bring creators and fans closer together, reducing the need for third-party platforms like Discord.
What Are YouTube Communities?
YouTube Communities serve as an interactive hub where creators and their audience can connect through text posts, images, and polls—all within the YouTube app. Think of it as a built-in social space similar to Discord, but directly integrated into YouTube.
Right now, Communities are only available on mobile devices, and YouTube hasn’t announced whether the feature will be coming to desktop anytime soon.
How It Works
Creators who are eligible for Communities will receive an email invitation and see a banner in their YouTube app. Once they tap “Go to Community,” they’ll be able to activate the feature and start engaging with their audience.
After enabling Communities, creators can manage posts and interactions through the Community Hub in YouTube Studio. This hub consolidates all activity, making it easier to respond to comments, moderate discussions, and even use suggested replies to keep the conversation flowing.
Additionally, YouTube is giving creators more control over who can post, allowing them to remove users who violate community guidelines.
The Community Tab Gets a New Name
To avoid confusion, YouTube is renaming its existing Community tab to “Posts.” This tab will still work the same way—allowing creators to share updates, announcements, and promotions—but the name change will help differentiate it from the new Communities feature.
Building a Stronger YouTube Community
YouTube’s goal with Communities is to create a more interactive space where creators and fans can build genuine relationships—not just through videos but also through direct conversations and shared experiences.
As the feature rolls out more widely, creators will have even more ways to engage with their audience, strengthen their fan base, and grow their communities—all without leaving YouTube.
