YouTube updates comments with GIFs and TV voice typing
YouTube announced new community features at Made On YouTube, adding GIF replies, voice TV comments, and expanded creator monetization tools.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- YouTube now supports sending GIFs in comments and voice commenting on TVs
- Expanding Channel Memberships with paid communities for top fans
- Adding group chats and short raw video sharing in direct messages
YouTube is upgrading its comments section and community features, as announced by the company at its Made On YouTube event on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The updates aim to make engagement more interactive while introducing new ways for creators to monetize their fandom beyond traditional advertising revenue.
Among the updates, users can finally reply to comments using GIFs and leave comments while watching YouTube on their TVs. The TV commenting feature operates via voice control, eliminating the tedious task of typing out messages using a remote control.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
To help creators grow and profit from their fan bases, YouTube is evolving its Channel Memberships feature. The platform is introducing paid, members-only communities where top fans can share posts and discussions. YouTube will showcase these communities on a new dedicated channel memberships page to help viewers discover groups matching their interests.
YouTube's push into deeper community features and alternative monetization models highlights the industry-wide shift to reduce reliance on ad-based income. By empowering creators with direct subscription tools and spaces for superfans, platforms are building more predictable and resilient creator economies.
According to the company, viewers have so far hyped more than 75 million unique videos over 1 billion times. Additionally, YouTube's direct messaging feature will roll out support for group chats in the coming months, allowing users to record and share quick, raw videos within these conversations.
These community-focused rollouts arrived alongside a suite of new creator tools, including support for A/B testing, live dubbing, and AI-assisted video editing capabilities.
Source: TechCrunch
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