Apps you can use that make social distancing a little easier 

By Angela Garrity, Guest blogger

Everywhere we turn right now, we find apps waiting to be appreciated and utilized. They are helping the world to understand and correctly utilize “social distancing” from just a click away.

Coronavirus changed the internet and Vox recently captured the apps that are getting us through isolation in a recent article.

“The health crisis is fundamentally changing our relationship to the world, each other, and even our own homes. Covid-19 is also affecting how people use the internet — transforming it overnight from a simple source of entertainment to a vital lifeline that allows those who are currently shut indoors to keep in touch with their family and friends,” the article states.

“Virtual togetherness” is our new norm, as platforms such as Zoom, Google Docs, and Netflix are no longer about work, organization, or entertainment. They’ve become tools for our reconfigured socialization.

Don’t feel like you’re stuck in a single place, because you’re definitely not alone. The world is out there just waiting for you to connect to it – online that is.

Discord is an app that allows people to create semi-private, invite-only servers, for mimicking something closer to offline interaction. It features a prominent voice chat feature that can be active all the time. Discord’s voice channels allow users to talk to each other in real-time while they multitask. It also comes with a screen-sharing feature that allows groups of people to watch a movie if one of them is streaming it. 

Gamers are familiar with Discord, as It has been a hit in the gaming community since its launch in 2015.

Netflix Party is also a great option for a “let’s watch” party, as it allows multiple Netflix users to sync and watch movies on the platform together.

The internet has never been so in demand as it is right now for live streaming and face to face interactions. Facebook, Zoom, Slack, Twitch, Instagram, Eventbrite, TikTok, YouTube, Hangouts, and many others are in seriously high demand both “on, off and around the clock” as we enter this new way of living worldwide.  

There has never been a better time to explore how technology can work for our needs.

Related: How to deal with isolation — tips from an astronaut

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