Facebook just launched a new feature that lets you watch videos on the platform with your friends through Facebook Messenger. The new watch party capability is rolling out today on both iOS and Android devices.
The feature is easy to access, just start a Messenger Room or video call and swipe up to reveal the Watch Together option. From there you can browse categories like ‘TV & Movies,’ ‘Watched’ ‘or ‘Uploaded,’ search, or watch a Facebook suggested video with up to 8 people in a Messenger video call or up to 50 in a Messenger Room.
“We created Watch Together to make spending quality time with friends and loved ones feel as close to an in-person experience as possible. Whether it’s watching a trending video, a movie, a sports highlight, a makeup tutorial or a Facebook Watch original, the feature allows you to watch your friends’ reactions at the same time,” the Facebook announcement says.
Group watching capabilities have been a hot ticket this year with social distancing guidelines and reduced travel limiting hanging out with friends outside of online connections. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have all introduced watch party features. Last week reported that Yahoo! Sports launched a watch feature so you can enjoy NFL games with friends through the app.
While Facebook isn’t a streaming service, there’s still a lot of content you can access through ‘Watch Together,’ including creator content, original series, live events, music videos, and more.
The one downside to the Facebook feature is that it only works through the Facebook Messenger app on a mobile device, so you’ll have to settle for watching videos on a small screen, something Facebook says may appeal to viewers in a younger audience who don’t own laptops yet.
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