Facebook Watch Party explained: how to watch videos in a group

This page was translated using AI and machine learning.

(Pocket-lint) – Facebook previously offered a Watch Party feature that allowed its users to simultaneously watch Facebook videos together. Their feeds have been synced so they can comment and react in real time. It was especially handy at the start of the pandemic, when experts recommended people split up and stay home as often as possible, as they could use the feature to still feel in touch with loved ones.

On April 16, 2021, the Watch Party feature was discontinued and all related stuff including reactions and comments has since been removed.

Here’s everything you need to know about how Watch Party works.

How did Facebook Watch Party work?

Create a Watch Party

News

1. To create a Watch Party from your News Feed or Timeline, click Create Post.
2. Click on the Watch Party option.
3. In the Add video menu, find a video.
4. You can also browse For You, Watched, Live, Recorded, and My Videos.
5. You also click Add to Queue next to any video to add it to your queue.
6. Once you’ve chosen a video, add a description for your Watch Party post, then click Publish.
7. You will see a message saying “Your Watch Party is about to start”.
8. Once your Watch Party starts, you can add friends to watch with you.

When in a Watch Party

1. Once your Watch Party has started, you can start a live audio commentary.
2. You can also click Add Video to add additional videos to the queue.
3. Click the Invite button at the bottom left to invite friends to your Watch Party.
4. You can click “Write something…” to chat with other Watch Party people.
5. You can add emojis, GIFs, photos or videos to your comments.
6. To end your Watch Party, click the “…” in the corner, then click End Watch Party.

After the end of a Watch Party

1. A recap will be saved to your timeline as a post.
2. All videos viewed during the evening and any comments made will be visible.

Watch the Watch Parties again

Once you’ve completed your Watch Party, a recap will be saved to your group as a post, which will show all of the videos watched during the party. Comments made during the original Watch Party will also be available for viewing.

What was Watch Party’s interest?

Facebook said Watch Party is useful for hosting Q&As, sharing behind-the-scenes video details, exchanging tips and tricks, showing real-time makeup tutorials, learning new things like workout technique and invite special guests to join their Watch Party. Since its launch, Facebook claims to have seen its Watch Parties large and small generate thousands of comments.

There were even groups that devoted more than 10 hours to a single Watch Party, “with different members coming in and out throughout the day,” Facebook said in a blog post. This shared viewing experience can also be used to connect families who live apart by reducing the distance between them when they cannot be physically together. The possibilities are limitless.

“Imagine sitting down to watch a loved one’s graduation video with your extended family when they couldn’t be there in person, reliving a vacation by sharing videos and exchanging memories, or even just passing by. time with friends watching fun videos together,” Facebook added. .

Who used Watch Party and why?

Here are some examples provided by Facebook:

• Dogspotting Society Group used Watch Party to watch dog videos together.
• Big Ballers hosted a Season 2 Binge so fans could catch up together.
• KARD, a K-Pop group, celebrated their anniversary with their fans via a Watch Party.

Where is Facebook Watch Party available?

Facebook announced and started testing Watch Party in 2017. In 2018, Watch Party became available worldwide. Facebook discontinued Watch Party in April 2021 after interest began to wane.

Want to know more?

Facebook also has this FAQ page which details how to join and find Watch Parties from Facebook groups and pages.

Check out Pocket-lint’s other handy Facebook guides while you’re here:

Written by Maggie Tillman. Edited by Luke Baker.