# Houseparty

> A group video chat app reported 50 million sign-ups during the lockdown surge.

- Owner: Life on Air / Epic Games
- Kind: App & software
- Sector: Technology
- Seed date: Feb 2016
- Peak date: Mar 2020
- Date basis: Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 61 (Viral), v1.2
- Mechanics: Maker origin, Press loop, Controversy, Revival, Platform jump

## Summary

Houseparty spread through school demos and friend invitations, then added games. Lockdowns brought a second surge and unproven hacking rumours. It reported 50 million sign-ups, launched celebrity co-watching and closed in 2021.

## Timeline

- Feb 2016 — Life on Air (App stores) — Life on Air released Houseparty quietly in the Apple App Store.
- May 2016 — Houseparty users (Group chats) — The founders recalled a May 2016 surge and separately described weekly school visits and revisions during beta.
- 2016-06-16 — Engadget (Press) — Engadget reported that Meerkat’s team had quietly launched Houseparty.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/houseparty

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Houseparty.” Case HIS-00218. Spread Score v1.2: 61/100. Updated 2026-10-13. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00218