I don’t even know how many days it’s been since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) started. But what I do know is that video calls and streams have practically taken over my days. (I think this is also the only reason I still know what date it is because of scheduled meetings and virtual hangouts.)
Let’s face it: Since the ECQ started and was eventually extended, those with internet connection have depended on apps to interact with their colleagues, friends and family. Not only do they help us keep communicating, we also find ways to entertain ourselves before cabin fever sets in.
We know that Zoom has been the popular choice among many, but we’re wary of its privacy issues. Fortunately, there are other apps out there where you can do your video call meeting and streaming parties.
Google Hangouts
Aside from Zoom, Hangouts is the most common platform out there since you can have multiple people on the call and you can share your screen during presentations. It may not be ideal for movie nights, but it is useful when you want to see your friends’ reactions while playing online games like Cards Against Humanity and Codenames. (If you have Google Suite, you can use Google Hangouts Meet for your work meetings.)
Discord
Discord is mostly used by gamers. Personally, I use it to talk to my friends because you can divide interests into multiple channels so your chat rooms don’t get muddled. This is especially useful when you’re more than 10 in the group chat. Aside from its messaging feature, you can use the Voice Channel to talk with your friends and even stream movies and games if you have the desktop app.
Netflix Party
Plan a Netflix movie or series binge-watch night using this Google Chrome plugin. All you need is a Netflix account and you can start watching with your friends. The best part is that the movie or series automatically pauses for everyone if one person needs to step out or if their stream starts buffering. So nobody’s missing out!
&chill
This website has a unique feature: It has a cinema setting where you can choose a “seat” and watch a video from your chosen perspective. You can either join a room to watch with other people, or you can create one for you and your friends. The catch is that &chill only supports YouTube and Vimeo links.
Twitch
Another popular platform among gamers, Twitch lets you find multiple content creators streaming and interacting with followers. If your friends decide to share their gameplay on the platform, it might be fun to watch along. Or you can start your own channel where you’re baking—the possibilities are endless, really.
Art by Tricia Guevara
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