For example, a screen area of the second device includes a first screen area and a second screen area. The first screen area plays the first multimedia content, and the second screen area plays the third multimedia content. In other words, the first multimedia content and the third multimedia content are simultaneously played on the second device (for example, when the second device is a television, the user watches the two video programs, that is, the first multimedia content and the third multimedia content, on the television in split-screen mode). In this case, the first device may display the first playback control card corresponding to the first multimedia content played by the second device and the third playback control card corresponding to the third multimedia content. If the first device receives the third user input, the first device may simultaneously play the first multimedia content and the third multimedia content (for example, when the first device is a mobile phone, the user watches the two video programs, that is, the first multimedia content and the third multimedia content, on the mobile phone in split-screen mode in response to the third user input).
In a possible design, the first device receives third playback information sent by a fourth device, where the fourth device is playing the first multimedia content, and the third playback information corresponds to the first multimedia content played by the fourth device. The first device displays a fourth playback control card corresponding to the first multimedia content played by the second device and the fourth device.
In a possible design, a playback progress of the first multimedia content played by the fourth device is the same as the playback progress of the first multimedia content played by the second device.