The containment made the platforms think. Most are working on mechanisms to synchronize playback on different machines, with a chat window to chat while watching the same thing.
Containment has installed new practices: teleworking, videoconferencing ... but also tips for watching series, at the same time, everyone at home. So far, it has been a bit complicated. The platforms have understood this. It will become much simpler.
Soon on Netflix, Amazon and others, there will be an option to watch a movie or a series, with others, but from a distance. It will work like the video aperitifs in which you may have already participated. We make an appointment. Everyone connects at the time called by videoconference. Then the screen is split in two, with, on the thumbnail side, the faces of the participants and a small window for writing comments. And on the rest of the screen, the film or the series that we are going to watch. There are already programs like Netflix Party, Rave or Scener that offer something equivalent. But, as you said, it is not always obviously to be implemented. There, everything will be integrated, automated and perfectly synchronized.
Who will control the reading? If there is one who wants to go to the bathroom, can he take a break?
Yes, everyone will have control. Anyone can go back, move forward, take a break ... Everything will remain perfectly synchronized. However, everyone must be subscribed to the platform. So unfortunately we will not be able to invite whomever we want.
Do we know when it will be available?
Testing is just starting at Netflix and HBO. So it will take a few months. But it starts at Amazon Prime Video with its Twitch service (the one where we watch others play video games). It's called Watch Party. We can even chat with personalities who will comment on a film or series live. This is the positive side of this crisis: it boosts innovation and makes it possible to invent new interactions between people.