WhatsApp is bringing the party to video calls: Share music and videos with your friends during calls
Imagine you’re video chatting with your friends, having a blast, and wanting to share a hilarious video or your favorite song. Currently, you’d have to interrupt your call to navigate to the content and then share it – a real buzzkill. But fret not, because WhatsApp is working on a feature that lets you directly share music and video audio during video calls, finally bringing the party directly to your calls!
Sharing the Music and Movie magic
This exciting new feature was first spotted by WABetaInfo, a reliable source for WhatsApp leaks, in development on iOS. Now, the company is developing the same functionality on the Android app, meaning that users on both platforms will eventually be able to enjoy this feature together.
The feature is designed to work specifically when screen sharing is active, ensuring everyone on the call can experience the same audio together. Unfortunately, this feature will not be available for audio-only calls, nor for video calls where video is turned off.
This means that if you’re trying to share a funny song or a great movie scene with friends, you will need to have screen sharing enabled for everyone to enjoy the shared audio.
Bringing the party to video calls
This feature, which is still in development, leverages the power of screen sharing to make video calls more interactive and engaging. While it is unclear whether this feature will work with all music and video apps, the potential for transforming video calls into shared entertainment experiences is exciting.
The Inspiration: SharePlay
This new feature bears a striking resemblance to Apple’s SharePlay, a similar feature introduced in 2021. SharePlay allows users on FaceTime calls to enjoy shared video, music, and even games with friends. While WhatsApp’s feature will be limited to music and video audio, it’s a great step towards embracing shared experiences within the app.
What’s next?
While there’s no official release date yet, the development of this feature on both iOS and Android suggests that we’re getting closer to enjoying shared audio experiences within our WhatsApp calls.
This new feature is a welcome addition that has the potential to make video calls more dynamic and engaging, especially when connecting with friends to catch up, watch a movie, or simply enjoy each other’s company.
The integration of music and video sharing within a messaging platform like WhatsApp could reshape how we experience social interactions, enhancing the shared entertainment possibilities within these virtual spaces. Keep your eyes peeled for the official rollout of this exciting new feature.