Pause feature for video comments introduced on YouTube

YouTube recently unveiled a novel approach to comment moderation titled "Comment Intermission." This feature offers video creators and moderators the ability to halt new comments on their videos while preserving the existing ones.

Innovate way to control the comments

This innovative tool provides an alternative to completely disabling comments or the laborious task of manually reviewing each comment. Creators can activate the Comment Intermission when they need a break to manage the influx of comments, especially to filter out undesirable or negative content. The activation for this feature is conveniently located within the comment settings at the top right of the comment section, accessible both through the YouTube mobile app and YouTube Studio. Once activated, a notification appears below the video, informing viewers that commenting has been temporarily halted, but previously posted comments remain visible.

YouTube started testing the new feature

YouTube began testing the "Comment Intermission" in October, and feedback from the testing phase was positive. Users in the experiment group reported feeling less burdened by the volume of comments to manage, appreciating the added flexibility the feature provided.

In conjunction with this release, YouTube has also simplified the naming of its comment moderation tools for better clarity and ease of use. New labels such as "On," "None," "Hold All," and "Off" have been introduced to intuitively indicate their functions. Additional settings include "Basic," which filters comments deemed potentially inappropriate for review, and "Strict," which captures a broader spectrum of potentially harmful comments for moderation. This update reflects YouTube's ongoing efforts to enhance user experience and provide content creators with more control over their interaction with the audience, aiming to create a more manageable and positive environment for both creators and viewers.