# Co-Watching Brands offer co-watching streaming platforms to connect friends and family. By [Mishal Omar](https://www.trendhunter.com/MishalO) | Published Apr 15, 2020 | Category: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/technology-trends-and-gadgets) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/cowatching ## Key Figures - Trend score: 5.0/10 - Evidence articles: 5 ## What is the Co-Watching trend? **Co-Watching:** Brands in the streamed content space are using their platforms to allow customers to bond with their friends and family with co-watching functionalities. Updated capabilities allow consumers to chat and interact as they watch content together virtually. ## The consumer insight behind the Co-Watching trend As people around the world practice physical distancing, they're having to reinterpret what spending time with friends and family means. Virtual bonding is currently a necessity for anyone who's looking to socialize, and these consumers are turning to brands who are going out of their way to accommodate this new normal. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 5 featured examples - Articles from: Apr 14, 2020 - Published: Apr 15, 2020 - Patterns: [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Experience](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/experience), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha, Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Themes within the Co-Watching trend ### Co-Watching Platforms Brands in the streamed content space are using co-watching functionalities to allow customers to bond with friends and family virtually. ### Virtual Reality-Based Co-Watching Virtual Reality-Based Co-Watching platforms like Bigscreen TV and Bigscreen Cinema are presenting innovative ways to bond with friends and family in a novel virtual reality environment. ### TV-Based Video Chat Platforms TV-Based Video Chat platforms such as Facebook's Portal TV are diversifying technological capabilities to better connect friends, not only over conventional video calls but content co-watching as well. ## What the Co-Watching trend means for industry ### For Streaming With the popularity of co-watching platforms increasing, streaming services should focus on building more interactivity functionality in their platforms. ### For Virtual Reality Entertainment The presentation of Virtual Reality-based Co-watching platforms opens up new horizons and innovative opportunities within the Virtual Reality Entertainment industry. ### For Smart Home Technologies The emergence of TV-Based Video Chat devices like Facebook's Portal TV provides opportunities for companies to innovate and create smarter, more intuitive home devices. ## Workshop question How is your brand adapting to the new needs and habits of its customers? ## Trend signals for Co-Watching Trend score 5.0 out of 10, from popularity 74%, activity 68%, freshness 9%. - Popularity: 74% - Activity: 68% - Freshness: 9% ## Examples of the Co-Watching trend 5 featured examples from Apr 14, 2020. - [VR-Based Co-Watching Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bigscreen-tv): Bigscreen TV & Bigscreen Cinema Brings People Together in VR (Category: Tech) Implication: Creating co-watching platforms and virtual reality cinema experiences in the rapidly growing VR industry. - [Face-to-Face Social Media Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/houseparty-app): The HouseParty App Boasts Calls, Texts, Games, & Screen-Sharing (Category: Tech) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the social media industry by introducing new features and ways of connecting users. - [TV-Based Video Chat Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portal-tv): Facebook's Portal TV Enables Users to Chat, Co-Watch & More (Category: Tech) Implication: The integration of video chat platforms like Portal TV into smart home technology opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for companies in the smart home industry to create s… - [Content Co-Watching Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instagram-cowatching): The Instagram Co-Watching Feature Allows Friends to Browse Together (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: The launch of the Instagram Co-Watching feature underscores the potential for social media companies to develop more collaborative and interactive features that facilitate remote… - [Communal Media-Streaming Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metastream): Metastream Allows Users to Watch or Listen to Content Together (Category: Tech) Implication: Opportunity for streaming platforms to incorporate communal viewing features into their platforms. ## Recent trend clusters - [Delegated Interfaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/delegated-interfaces) (Tech) - [Adaptive Controls](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/adaptive-controls) (Tech) - [Desk Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/desk-systems) (Tech) - [Spatial Refinement](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/spatial-refinement) (Tech) ## Trending in Tech - [Decor-Led Home Projectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decor-led-home-projectors) - [Accessible Fintech Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chequing-account) - [Dual-Wavelength Recovery Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joint-therapy) - [Pop-Culture WiFi Routers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pop-culture-wifi-routers) All articles: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech)