Buzz
During the COVID-19 outbreak, all citizens are required to practice social distancing. While staying indoors, now more than ever, we need a way to connect with friends and family afar. Recognizing this need, Instagram has rolled out the Co-Watching feature, allowing you and your Instagram friends to view videos and posts together.
What is Co-Watching?
Co-Watching is an online method similar to handing someone your phone so they can enjoy the content with you. However, nowadays, we can't share phones or gather around one person's device to enjoy the experience together.
This new feature allows you to view your favorite posts with friends simultaneously and discuss them directly. You and your friends can laugh together at funny videos or read posts and have direct discussions without leaving Instagram.
Starting a Co-Watching session
When you find a post that you want to share with your friends or family, follow these steps to start viewing together.
- Open the message by tapping the arrow button in the top right corner
- Tap on the video camera icon in the top right corner
- Enter the name of the friend you want to call, then tap the plus sign next to their name.
- The people you've added will appear with a checkmark, you can also select additional people by checking the circle next to their name.
- Once you've added all the members in the group, press Start.
- Wait for members of the group to join, on the call screen, tap the image icon at the bottom of the screen, labeled Media Files.
- You can choose to play photos or videos you've liked (heart), saved (bookmark), or explore (compass) additional new content.
- Then you can watch videos while chatting with your friends.
Even after social distancing is over, the Co-Watching feature on Instagram will continue. However, it will have to compete with Squad. Squad is an app that allows users to share their entire mobile phone screen while chatting. Instagram, on the other hand, limits sharing to posts you've liked or saved and posts suggested from the explore screen. Squad enables you to share from any app.
