Netflix has become the new best friend to many of us self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic. But Netflix has a brand new way to put the “social” back in “social distancing.” With Netflix Party, you can hold virtual movie nights with your friends online. Similar to the now defunct Rabb.it and Kast, Netflix Party is an extension available for download on Google Chrome. All one needs is the Chrome browser, an Internet connection, and a Netflix account!
To use Netflix Party, first download the extension from the Chrome Store (it’s totally free), then go to the Netflix website and select a movie (or episode of a tv show), click on the “NP” next to your address bar at the top of the screen, click “Start Party”, and then share the URL with your friends. You can also join others’ parties by going to the the host’s URL and clicking the “NP” button in your address bar to automatically join the party. (You MUST have the extension downloaded. Being on Netflix is not enough.)
You can even customize your username, chat online during the screening, and share screenshots, emojis, and GIFs in the group chat for the full movie night experience. And as long as you already have a Netflix account, it’s one hundred percent free- all you have to spend is a little bit of time downloading the extension to your computer. And the best part is, you don’t even have to change out of your pajamas. The movie theater in your town may be shut down, but the one in your own home doesn’t have to be.