Watch Movies Together With Your Friends With Facebook Messenger's 'Watch Together'

Facebook’s Messenger app is the latest to join the co-watching trend with “Watch Together,” a free feature for the iOS and Android platforms.

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has put strict implementation on social distancing that people are required to be apart and stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus. Along this line, Facebook came up with a plan to bring friends and loved ones together amid the global crisis.

As its name suggests, “Watch Together” will enable up to eight users to co-watch videos on Messenger app and up to 50 people in Messenger Rooms. Tech Crunch said the new feature will work with all Facebook Watch video content, including live streams, creator content, original programs and music videos in the future.

“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,” said Variety, citing a statement from Facebook product manager Nora Micheva.

Users need to be in a Messenger video call or a Messenger Room to start using “Watch Together.” Tech Crunch noted that those on Messenger need to select the new option from a drawer that pulls up from the bottom of the screen to access the menu.

From there, they can browse a number of options that are either suggested or pre-selected such as “TV & Movies,” “Watched” and “Uploaded.” Those invited to “Watch Together” can help choose videos, while controls like stop, pause, fast forward and rewind are available.

“Watch Together” is an initial effort of Facebook to make movies and other video content an avenue for people to get together. While this is not The Social Network’s first crack and co-viewing, the new feature can be enjoyed using a small device, like a Smartphone. The Verge said “Watch Together” can be played in either landscape or portrait mode, making it a portable entertainment as well.

Facebook has started to roll out “Watch Party” to iOS and Android devices globally, with web support coming “in a matter of weeks.” Other platforms will also have the new feature soon, said Tech Crunch.