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How to Reignite the Conversation: Turning on Comments on YouTube

Want to foster community, get feedback, and boost engagement? Turning on comments on YouTube is your first step. Here’s a breakdown of how to do it, along with everything else you need to know about managing your YouTube comment section.

The Direct Route: Enabling Comments on YouTube

The process for turning on comments on YouTube depends on whether you’re dealing with a new video upload, a previously uploaded video, or the default settings for all your future uploads. Let’s tackle each scenario.

For New Video Uploads:

Upload Your Video: Start the upload process on YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com).
Navigate to Video Details: After uploading, you’ll be taken to the video details page.
Go to “More Options”: Scroll down to find the “More Options” section and click on it.
Find the “Comments and Rating” Section: This section controls your comment settings.
Choose Your Comment Setting: Select your desired option from the dropdown menu. You’ll see choices like:
- Allow all comments: This is the most open option.
- Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review: YouTube’s algorithm will flag potentially offensive comments, which you can then approve or reject.
- Hold all comments for review: All comments will be held in a moderation queue until you approve them.
- Disable comments: This prevents anyone from leaving comments on your video.
Save Your Changes: Click “Save” in the top right corner of the screen.

For Existing Videos:

Go to YouTube Studio: Navigate to studio.youtube.com.
Select “Content”: In the left-hand menu, click on “Content.” This will display a list of all your uploaded videos.
Choose the Video: Click on the thumbnail or title of the video you want to modify.
Go to “More Options”: Scroll down to find the “More Options” section and click on it.
Find the “Comments and Rating” Section: Again, this section controls your comment settings.
Choose Your Comment Setting: Select your desired option from the dropdown menu (as described above).
Save Your Changes: Click “Save” in the top right corner of the screen.

Setting Default Comment Permissions:

Want to streamline the process and apply a consistent comment policy to all future videos? You can set default comment permissions.

Go to YouTube Studio: Navigate to studio.youtube.com.
Click “Settings”: In the left-hand menu, click on “Settings.”
Select “Upload defaults”: In the settings menu, choose “Upload defaults.”
Go to “Advanced settings”: Click on the “Advanced settings” tab.
Find the “Comments” Section: Here, you’ll find the default comment settings.
Choose Your Default Setting: Select your preferred comment setting from the dropdown menu. This will apply to all new videos you upload.
Save Your Changes: Click “Save.”

FAQs: Your YouTube Comment Conundrums Solved

Here are some frequently asked questions to address common scenarios and concerns surrounding YouTube comments:

1. Why are my YouTube comments automatically turned off?

YouTube automatically disables comments on videos that are marked as “Made for Kids.” This is a legal requirement under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If your video is flagged as “Made for Kids,” you cannot enable comments, regardless of your preferences. Check your video’s settings in YouTube Studio to ensure it’s correctly categorized.

2. How do I enable comments on YouTube Shorts?

The process for enabling comments on YouTube Shorts is similar to standard videos. When uploading or editing a Short, look for the “More Options” section and then the “Comments” section. You can choose your desired comment setting from the dropdown menu. However, remember that if the Short is categorized as “Made for Kids,” comments will be disabled.

3. Can I enable comments on live streams?

Yes, you can! When setting up your live stream in YouTube Studio, navigate to the “Customization” tab. You’ll find options to enable live chat (which functions similarly to comments) and set moderation preferences.

4. I’ve enabled comments, but no one can see them. Why?

There are several reasons why comments might not be visible:

Comments are being held for review: You may have chosen a setting that requires you to approve comments before they’re publicly visible. Check your moderation queue in YouTube Studio.
Comments are being filtered: YouTube’s automatic filters might be hiding certain comments that are deemed inappropriate. Review your filtered comments.
The commenter is shadowbanned: YouTube might have shadowbanned a user, meaning their comments are only visible to them.
Technical Glitch: Though rare, there could be a temporary technical issue on YouTube’s end.

5. How do I moderate comments on my YouTube videos?

YouTube provides robust comment moderation tools. In YouTube Studio, go to the “Comments” section. Here, you can:

Approve comments: Make comments visible to everyone.
Remove comments: Delete inappropriate or unwanted comments.
Report comments: Report comments that violate YouTube’s Community Guidelines.
Hide users from your channel: Prevent specific users from commenting on your videos.
Assign moderators: Delegate comment moderation responsibilities to trusted individuals.
Create a list of approved users: Allow comments from specific users without moderation.
Block specific words: Automatically remove comments containing certain words or phrases.

6. What are YouTube’s Community Guidelines, and how do they relate to comments?

YouTube’s Community Guidelines outline what is and isn’t allowed on the platform. Comments that violate these guidelines (e.g., hate speech, harassment, spam) can be removed, and the commenter may face penalties. Familiarize yourself with these guidelines to ensure your comment section remains a positive and productive space.

7. Can I pin a comment to the top of my YouTube video?

Yes! To pin a comment, find the comment you want to feature and click the three vertical dots next to it. Select “Pin” from the dropdown menu. The pinned comment will appear at the top of the comment section, making it the first thing viewers see. This is a great way to highlight important information, answer frequently asked questions, or simply showcase a positive comment.

8. How do I report spam comments on YouTube?

Reporting spam comments is crucial for maintaining a clean and engaging comment section. Click the three vertical dots next to the spam comment and select “Report.” Choose the appropriate reason for reporting (e.g., “Spam or misleading”).

9. What happens if I block someone from commenting on my YouTube channel?

If you block a user from your channel, they will no longer be able to comment on any of your videos. They also won’t be able to send you private messages. They will still be able to watch your videos, but they will essentially be silenced in your corner of YouTube.

10. How do I use keywords in my YouTube comments effectively?

While it’s tempting to stuff comments with keywords for SEO purposes, it’s generally not a good practice. Focus on writing genuine and engaging comments that contribute to the conversation. Keyword stuffing can be seen as spam and may even hurt your channel’s reputation. Use keywords naturally and sparingly within the context of the discussion.

11. Can I export comments from my YouTube videos?

Yes, you can export comments from your YouTube videos using third-party tools or browser extensions. There is no native YouTube functionality for exporting comments directly. These tools can be helpful for analyzing comment trends, identifying popular topics, or simply archiving conversations.

12. Are there benefits to disabling comments on YouTube?

While enabling comments is generally beneficial for engagement, there are situations where disabling them might be appropriate:

Controversial Content: If your video deals with a sensitive or divisive topic, disabling comments might prevent heated arguments or harassment.
Children’s Content: As mentioned earlier, comments are automatically disabled on content marked as “Made for Kids” due to COPPA regulations.
Preventing Spam: If you’re struggling to manage a flood of spam comments, temporarily disabling comments might be a necessary step.
Focusing on other engagement methods: Perhaps you’d prefer viewers to engage via a specific call-to-action in the video, driving them to your website or social media.

By mastering these comment controls, you can cultivate a thriving and positive community around your YouTube content, fostering valuable interactions and building stronger relationships with your audience. Remember that engagement is a two-way street – actively participate in the conversation, respond to comments, and show your viewers that you value their input.