With so much in the news about data leaks and misinformation, the most recent announcement from Facebook is actually a breath of fresh air.
Today, Facebook has officially announced the launch of Watch Party, a feature that lets people in Facebook Groups watch live or pre-recorded videos together (and chat) in real time.
The social media company has been testing out the communal viewing feature for a few months now. With today's announcement, Watch Party is officially opening up to all Facebook Groups.
The feature is actually quite cool in practice. Facebook users can simply click the "Watch Party" button in the post section of a Facebook Group.
The user then selects a few Facebook videos, live or prerecorded ones, and the Watch Party begins. Members of the Facebook Group can watch and comment together at the same time on the videos. It’s sort of like setting up your own TV channel and watching the schedule lineup with a group of friends.
The feature does have a few restrictions. For now, a Watch Party can only be launched inside of a Facebook Group. However, the company did mention in its announcement that it's testing out Watch Parties outside of Facebook Groups and is planning to experiment with Watch Parties on Facebook Pages too.
Another limitation of Watch Parties is that users can only add Facebook hosted videos to the queue. You can’t add content from YouTube or other video streaming websites.
Speaking of other video streaming websites, there have been attempts made by third parties for a long while to integrate Watch Party-like features into their platforms. While chatting and streaming video at the same time isn't exactly new, Watch Party's additional c is what sets it apart. Watch Party allows for a segmented group to watch multiple synced up videos together. Its like your own private theater just for your friends so you can all watch and talk about the same exact Facebook videos at the same exact time, no matter where your buddies are.
People like watching movies, TV, and internet videos together. Perhaps Facebook will open the floodgates for other services to roll out Watch Party-esque features of its own.
It’s easy sometimes to forget Facebook's best feature is the ability to connect with friends and family anytime, anywhere. Facebook Watch Party is a rare positive step to getting the company back to basics.
TopicsFacebookSocial Media
(责任编辑：知識)
Balloon fanatic Tim Kaine is also, of course, very good at harmonica
Watch Lady Gaga surprise a crowd with a Frank Sinatra performance
Oprah made Tim Cook cry at the Apple TV+ event
We regret to inform you that this brand tweet about St. Louis food is funny
Slack goes down again, prompting anxiety everywhereFelix the cat just raised £5000 for charity because she's the hero we all need
LONDON -- Remember Felix, the Huddersfield train station cat who got promoted to Senior Pest Control
...[详细]'Us' review roundup: Scarier than 'Get Out,' led by Lupita Nyong'o
Jordan Peele changed the horror game and won an Oscar for 2017's Get Out, so there was a lot of pres
...[详细]Robert Downey Jr. sparks 'Avengers' battle over who has the best 'stache
Robert Downey Jr. mustache Twitter a very important question. The Iron Manhimself assembled an elite
...[详细]Watch Lady Gaga surprise a crowd with a Frank Sinatra performance
Lady Gaga took her Hollywood golden age persona to a new level Thursday when she surprised a crowd a
...[详细]Did our grandparents have the best beauty advice?
Do our grandparents really know what's best?They're older and wiser, and they have no shortage of ad
...[详细]The 8 best funny horror movies for the easily spooked
Everyone has a different tolerance for horror movies. But the one thing even those easily spooked ca
...[详细]The Emoji Challenge has inspired a fierce group chat competition
Rev up those notifications, it's time for another internet challenge.To get in on this latest trend,
...[详细]AOC obliterates claim that fighting climate change is 'elitist' in stirring speech
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's signature Green New Deal may not have gained enough votes in the Senate o
...[详细]Tourist survives for month in frozen New Zealand wilderness after partner dies
A tourist from the Czech Republic, whose partner fell to his death, survived a harrowing month in th
...[详细]Watch Lady Gaga surprise a crowd with a Frank Sinatra performance
Lady Gaga took her Hollywood golden age persona to a new level Thursday when she surprised a crowd a
...[详细]Fake news reports from the Newseum are infinitely better than actual news
Chunky baby seal born in Japan. Look at him, love him.
