YouTube is making creators’ lives easier with a new feature that allows them to temporarily curb the flow of comments on their videos. YouTubers will now have much more control.
The new Pause option available to YouTube creators
The aptly named “Pause” option will be a welcome addition for creators who often find themselves drowning in a deluge of comments, turning the comment section into a digital Colosseum where camaraderie and conflict collide.

This new functionality comes out of YouTube’s realization that creators are not superhuman and need some breathing room to effectively manage their comment sections. The pause option is designed to give creators the flexibility to temporarily stop new comments while keeping existing comments visible.
This means that creators will no longer have to choose between being a vigilant comment police, manually reviewing comments before publishing, or resorting to extreme measures like closing comments altogether, which will hide existing comments.
YouTube is testing the feature and initial feedback from creators who have had a chance to try it out has been positive. Creators have reported feeling less overwhelmed by the volume of comments and are pleased to have more space to manage their interactions with viewers.
The pause option can be found in the top right corner of the comments panel on the YouTube app’s watch page or in the video-level comment settings in YouTube Studio. When enabled, everyone, including those whose comments have already been posted, can see when the creator presses the Pause button.

In addition to the Pause feature, YouTube has also streamlined moderation settings for comments. Instead of scrolling through complex options like “Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review” or adjusting the “Increase frequency” toggle, creators now have three simple options: On, Pause or Off.
Enabling comments also unlocks a number of levels of control for creators to choose from. “None” allows anything goes with zero moderation, while “Basic” keeps an eye on potentially sketchy comments for review. “Strict” broadens the screening for the creator to decide. For those who want complete control, “Keep All” allows creators to check every single comment before it goes live.
In essence, the Pause option empowers creators to focus on content creation and other aspects of their lives beyond the comment section. It relieves the pressure of constantly monitoring and managing comments, allowing creators to engage with their audience without the stress of constantly monitoring the flood of comments.