coviewing
Coviewing is the practice of watching the same screen-based content at the same time by two or more people, typically in the same physical space. It encompasses family viewing, peer gatherings, classroom screenings, and, with digital platforms, synchronized streams or watch parties that enable simultaneous viewing across distances. The core idea is a shared viewing experience that can shape interpretation and memory of the content.
Contexts and modalities: In households, coviewing commonly involves parents and children or partners, often accompanied by
Impact: Coviewing can promote social bonding, vocabulary development, and the collective construction of meaning, particularly when
Best practices: Active mediation—explaining scenes, asking questions, and connecting material to real life—tends to increase positive
See also: co-viewing, media literacy, screen time guidelines.