Instagram has now launched a new Watch Together feature to make it easier to users to chat with friends on the platform, while watching their favorite TV shows. Instagram users who upgrade to the latest version will be able to watch IGTV, Reels, trending videos, and popular TV shows in real-time over video chat. Here’s how it works.
Facebook first unveiled the Watch Together feature in September for its Messenger service. It allowed friends, who had perhaps been separated from each other due to the pandemic to hang out and watch a TV show together online. They would access content from the Facebook Watch video-on-demand service and view it while in a Messenger Room or on a video call on the app.
Now, the service has been rolled out to Instagram. Like with Messenger, activating the feature is quite simple. Users start an Instagram video chat and tap the media button in the bottom-right of the screen. Then, they select the TV & Movies tab. From there, Instagram users will see a selection of various Facebook Watch content, from scripted series to reality shows to viral videos. Once they pick something, they can watch it together in the chat and complain about how bad the writing is or dish about what scandals the stars have gotten into in real life.
Exclusive Instagram & Messenger Content
To coincide with the rollout, Facebook has launched two new shows that will exclusively be available on Instagram and Messenger. The first is Post Malone’s Celebrity World Pong League. It’s a ten-episode series, airing Wednesdays and Fridays where Malone plays beer pong against celebrity friends, including Doja Cat, Quavo, and Saweetie. Malone faces off against Tyla Yaweh and Machine Gun Kelly in the first episode, which aired November 18. The other is Here for It With Avani Gregg — an eight-episode series that started this Monday where the TikTok star discusses social issues affecting Gen Z-ers. In the premiere episode, Gregg talks about friendships with fellow TikTok star Amelie Zilber.
It’s unclear how popular these particular shows will be as their target audience seems to be somewhat niche. People who aren’t already fans of Malone or Gregg are unlikely to tune in, let alone share the experience with family and friends. However, Facebook Watch’s video collection is quite large so there’s a good chance the Watch Together feature could become a popular way to connect with friends, especially at a time when so many are starved for human contact.
