# Are messages on Youtube always Public?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-messages-on-youtube-always-public/709809>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 14, 2015, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-messages-on-youtube-always-public/709809 "2015-01-14T11:34:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-messages-on-youtube-always-public/709809/1 "2015-01-14T11:34:56Z")

</div>

I think that I goofed earlier tonight. I went to a guys channel that I follow. Under Discussion I entered a message for him. Nothing embarassing or anything. But I thought it was private.

Later after clearing my cookies. I was no longer logged into Gmail, Google+, or Youtube. I was curious to see if that message was public. Apparently it is.

Are those types of messages always public? Anyway to make them private?

I just got around to setting up my youtube channel a couple weeks ago. Mainly so that I could subscribe to other people’s channels. I’ve only messaged one time and know the notification comes up in the School bell Icon on the screen’s top right corner. The reply I got seemed to take me over to Google +. I get confused in messaging on youtube and Google +. Is it the same messaging?

Google and Gmail presents challenges. My work email is a managed Gmail account (managed by my employer). We sign in on a special login page with a Network ID. If I want to log into my personal Gmail then I have to clear cookies with CCleaner. Then go to the normal Gmail login page.

I’ve learned to just run CCleaner anytime my PC reboots. Makes life on Google easier.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-messages-on-youtube-always-public/709809/2 "2015-01-14T12:57:47Z")

</div>

I just got a message reply. I see now that School Bell Icon notifies in all three applications, GMail,YouTube and Google +.

I just need to figure out how to send private messages. This messaging is pretty cool.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-messages-on-youtube-always-public/709809/3 "2015-01-14T13:10:01Z")

</div>

Ok, I see where I went wrong. I should have clicked About and sent a message from there. I think that’s private.

I clicked Discussion. Hey, it’s just my third message that I’ve ever sent under youtube.