Online Video as a Social Activity

Abstract

Online video is one of the Internet’s most popular services. In addition to entertainment, it can provide a social experience. This chapter describes several design decisions related to incorporating a live chat feature alongside online video, and how these decisions could influence the entertainment and social dimensions of the viewing experience. Two laboratory studies explore issues of distraction, entertainment and sociability when integrating live chat with online video. Surprisingly, these studies show that despite being distracting, chat with video can be enjoyable and sociable. Researchers and practitioners need to explore the generality of this finding both for different genres of content and interaction media and for small and large viewing audiences. The chapter concludes by looking at new models for online video and chat and the implications of those models on sociability.