Facebook today announced Watch Party to all Groups globally. Watch Party is a new way for people to watch videos on Facebook together in real time. Once a Watch Party is started, participants can watch videos, live or recorded, and interact with one another around them in the same moment.
The company is also testing the ability for people to start Watch Parties with friends outside of groups, too, and will explore Watch Parties for Pages in the future.
Based on community feedback from the test, Watch Party includes features such as co-hosting, which lets the host of a Watch Party designate other co-hosts who can add videos and keep the party going; and Crowdsourcing, which lets anyone in a Watch Party suggest videos for the host to add to the Watch Party.
“We’ve been encouraged by feedback from groups using Watch Party as we’ve been testing and rolling out. We’ve heard from group leaders that they’re excited to use Watch Party for things like: hosting Q&As around particular hobbies such as cooking or crafting, sharing behind the scenes details of a video, swapping tips and tricks for things like home improvement, decorating, or makeup tutorials with members in real time, learning new things like a workout technique or musical skills, and inviting special guests to join their Watch Party,” Facebook said in a blog post.
The company has also lined up a Weekend of Watch Parties, when Facebook Groups around the world will host Watch Parties to connect their communities from 7/27 — 7/29. Some of the participating groups include:
Buzzfeed’s Tasty Group -- a community of foodies where group members share and discuss favourite recipes and cooking tips. The group will host several Watch Parties over the weekend: Friday’s Watch Party will be determined by polling the group ahead of time, Saturday will focus on cooking tips, and Sunday will consist of recipes to prep for a Sunday dinner with family and friends!
Physician Moms Group, a community that brings together women physicians — who are also parents — to collaborate and support each other while sharing their medical expertise, will host a Watch Party with videos around women’s empowerment, motherhood, and medicine-related videos.
Outdoor Afro, a leading network and community that celebrates and inspires African American connections and leadership in nature, will host a Watch Party for a video where its Boston Outdoor Afro community tackles Mount Washington’s Tuckerman Ravine.
Fitness Sisters, a community built around women supporting and motivating each other on their health and fitness journeys, will host a Watch Party with videos on the process of building healthy fitness friendships.
Red Table Talk Group will poll members about their favorite episodes and host a Watch Party this weekend featuring the top three. Fans will be able to re-watch and discuss with each other and may even get a visit from a special guest in the Watch Party.
Female Travel Bloggers, a community of like-minded women who write about travel and empower one another through advice and encouragement, will host a Watch Party with videos on travel and women’s empowerment.
The Broke Black Girl, a group that gives African American women a safe space to discuss personal finance challenges and find support, will host a Watch Party with videos around current events, women’s empowerment, and financial and career planning.
