Socializing in the time of Social Distancing
Physical distancing to keep COVID-19 at bay shouldn’t make us feel isolated
With the enhanced community quarantine being enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you are asked to stay at home for the time being. And isolation, besides the virus, can be a major source of anxiety for some.
There’s a lot you can do while on quarantine, and there are a lot of apps available to help combat loneliness while in physical isolation.
For reunions and gatherings
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually have to go out to bond with your loved ones. A lot of apps allow video conferences such as Skype, Google Hangouts and Messenger that support both small and huge groups. In fact, Group FaceTime lets you chat with up to 32 people in one conference. All you have to do is inform the people involved, link them to the chat and you can already talk to them and see how they’re doing.
For donation drives
Some people and organizations are taking advantage of digital platforms like Instagram by organizing donations drives for the frontliners, essential workers and daily wage earners. Because of this, you can now offer help without leaving your home.
For family support
If you are far away from your family right now, you’ll be thankful for technology and for the various social apps that can help you connect to your loved ones. The World Health Organization (WHO) also launched a messaging service in partnership with WhatsApp to help people combat the pandemic.
By the time this is all over, you will probably realize that actual physical human interaction is always the best way to ease loneliness. But as this pandemic remains a threat, let’s make good use of technology for now.
