Khalid retweeted Mendes and added a corresponding lyric with hearts: "Pain, but I won't let it turn into hate".

[2][3] The lyrics were also posted on billboards across New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Washington, D.C., Toronto, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Rio, and Melbourne.

[4][5] The song premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show, where Mendes talked about collaborating with Khalid.

[15] Patrick Hosken of the same publication opined that Khalid's "gravelly voice pairs nicely with Mendes's own patented rasp", stating that "the message of the song is simple but effective".

[20] Mendes and Khalid performed "Youth" at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018, as a tribute to the victims of gun violence.

[21] Mendes performed the song with John Legend at the Global Citizen Festival in New York City on September 29, 2018.