Keeping in touch with friends and family is important for your mental well-being. With an Internet connection, there’s no reason you can’t continue to socialise the way you did pre-Circuit Breaker.
When the Circuit Breaker was implemented to control the spread of COVID-19, social gatherings were disallowed. However, social distancing doesn’t mean completely isolating yourself from others. Even if you cannot physically be with friends and family, there are ways to stay in touch through modern technologies.
Make Video Calls
There are a plethora of apps that allow you to make video calls to loved ones. All you need is a device with a camera, microphone and Internet access. Video calls are more personal than just a phone call because —even though you cannot be in the same room — you can see each other’s faces.
Facebook Messenger is a popular app for this as it works well for a variety of digital methods with which you may wish to contact friends. It supports up to eight people in free video calls with no duration limit; when you are making a two-person call, it switches to a peer-to-peer structure, skipping servers and potentially avoiding congestion.
WhatsApp is another way to go. This app recently upgraded to allow up to eight people to be on a group call at the same time. To activate it, start a group chat and then hit the call button at the top right and select the participants, then hit the camera.Start a Watch Party
Are you are someone who enjoys hosting parties and celebrations? If you are, why not create a Watch Party on Facebook? You can do so from your newsfeed, timeline, in a group, on a page (must be an admin or editor), or from any video you’re watching. Any friends you invite will receive a notification. Then you’re all set to watch any public video on Facebook and comment in real time.
Throw a Netflix Party
If you miss watching movies together with friends, think about creating your own film festival instead. Netflix has introduced Netflix Party, which allows you to link up with friends for a long-distance movie night. You stop and pause a Netflix movie or show so you can watch it at the same time as a group of friends and family — remotely, of course! There’s also a side chat bar, where you and your friends can comment on the plot or characters while watching the movie.
Have a Virtual Dinner Date
You could also enjoy a meal together while supporting our local F&B outlets at the same time. That’s the idea behind digi-dining, an idea coined by a family in Australia as lockdown measures came into force in the country. Dress up and make a breakfast or dinner date with a friend or family member.