YouTube to expand comment section with full image and GIF support

Google will allow image and GIF support in YouTube comments starting in November 2026, ARYnews.tv, Notebookcheck, and AndroidPure report. ARYnews.tv reports that Google updated the YouTube Data API v3 revision history to add a field for comment image URLs. Historically, YouTube comments were limited to text and emoji, although ARYnews.tv notes that limited mobile app GIF support existed via a special library. [1][2][3]

The media update accompanies additional viewer and creator functionality. ARYnews.tv reports that viewers watching YouTube on televisions will soon be able to leave comments using voice input instead of remote controls. Creators will also receive new comment management tools that are currently undergoing testing. [1]

Google acquired the video platform in November 2006 for 1.65 billion dollars. The service has grown into the second most visited website globally, reaching approximately 2.7 billion monthly active users by February 2026. Data from the Pew Research Center in 2025 shows that 84 percent of adults in the United States use the platform. [4][6]

The platform receives more than 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, totaling approximately 720,000 hours of new content daily. The new image and voice features arrive as YouTube expands interaction options across television and mobile interfaces. [1][6]