Watching content together, alone

Source: Apple

With the arrival of yet another MCO in 2021, students and some of the working class have been relegated to conducting their everyday tasks from their homes, again.

But there is respite from the storm raging outside, and that is enjoying content we’d otherwise consume outdoors, from the comfort of our homes.

In place of going to the cinema or jamming to tunes together in a car on a long road trip, more and more people are connecting with friends virtually and watching movies and listening to music together, but at home alone.

Thanks to the popularity of streaming platforms and the means of connecting with each other virtually being more accessible than ever, it’s entirely possible to have a full blown watch party for your favorite movies and shows all while never actually meeting up in person.

Some companies aren’t only aware of this new trend, but are even doubling down on it.

The Cupertino based tech giant Apple for one is leveraging the popularity of it’s video calling app, FaceTime by adding new group video and music streaming features.

Sarah Perez from TechCrunch said in her coverage of WWDC 2021 that Apple took the stage to announce the latest feature addition FaceTime, dubbed “SharePlay”.

“The company showed off watching video from its Apple TV+ streaming service, where the video was synced in real time between call participants. This was a popular trend during the pandemic, as people watched movies virtually with family and friends, prompting services like Hulu and Amazon Prime Video to add native co-watching features.”

Many students and young people who hopped on the trend largely welcomed this substitute for going to the movies and gatherings with open arms, but with some reservations.

Shivendra Kogulsash an undergraduate student shared that he wholeheartedly loves the idea of streaming movies with friends both from the money he saved doing so but also the convenience and comfort.

“I like that we can pause the stream at any moment so that those who need a break can do so and not miss out on crucial moments.”

There are downsides however - streaming quality due to network stability being one of the key issues pointed out by Shivendra and also Kar Wei, a fresh graduate who also had other issues with streaming through video calling apps.

“I like that we can laugh and discuss as loud as we want without a whole hall judging us, but that also means it lacks the ambience of a cinema with the cozy chairs and great sound system.”

It is true that this new form of virtual group entertainment has its growing pains, but the protection from the pandemic outside by staying home alone and connecting virtually might be a trend worth hopping on to pass the lockdown period.