Co-viewing Virtually: Social Outcomes of Second Screening with Televised and Streamed Content

Viewership of traditional television programming has been steadily declining, particularly among younger audiences, who have turned to smartphones, social media, streaming services, and YouTube to consume video. These audiences also frequently engage in second-screening practices, using another device to virtually connect with others regarding what they are watching. Most prior research has focused on the effects of second screening via social media with televised content. Through a survey of teens in the Middle East (N= 258) and young adults in the United States (N= 643), the current study found second screening frequently occurs withbothtraditional TV and streaming content. Framed by co-viewing theory, results show both practices positively correlate with a constructed second-screen social capital affinity (SSSCA) scale, mirroring co-viewing in person. Findings also indicate that second screening need not take place simultaneously with video viewing to gratify social needs.