While people across the nation are rejoicing as states are getting ready to re-open their cities, others are not as eager to start their post-pandemic life. We have been hearing of states across the nation lifting their executive stay at home order, allowing for residents to leave their homes for non-essential travel. As recommended by the CDC, social gatherings were to be kept under 10, now have been increased to 25-50 people. Without a vaccine, people are hesitant to leave their homes. This is completely okay, and no one should have to defend their decision to stay at home. Do what is comfortable for you and your family.
Ever since we have been quarantined, the world has been introduced to Zoom, a video conferencing platform that helped families and friends stay connected while physically distant. However, Zoom doesn’t always meet the needs of each group, more specifically, basic Zoom users have a 40-minute time limit on each call. Here a list of other alternate platforms with different functions that you can use to stay connected until you feel safe to start your new normal life.
Houseparty
Houseparty is a fun app that makes it exactly what it seems like, a virtual house party! It allows your friends to be able to jump into your meeting room if you’re on the app. If you want to avoid unwanted house guests, make sure you lock your room. The one feature that Houseparty has that Zoom doesn’t have is the ability to play games with your group while in-app. You can play Heads Up, a Pictionary-type game, and even trivia. It allows you to have conversations with your friends and family and you can jump on a game without changing an app. The app does only allow a maximum of eight house guests.
Facebook Messenger Rooms
Most of us have Facebook, but what’s more important is that the majority of our parents and family members have Facebook! A great feature that Messenger Rooms offers is that only one person needs to have an account, and then they can recreate the room and send the link out to everyone. You don’t even need Facebook to join in on the fun. It allows the host to have up to 50 people in one room and will have fun filters that you can have on your video. It does not have a time limit as Zoom does.
Facetime
Facetime is very limited as it only allows IOS users to use this app. If you have an Apple product, you can join a call with up to 32 people. If you have a newer Macbook, you’ll be able to join these calls on your Macbook. Otherwise, it does suck to have a video call with a lot of people on your phone’s small screen.
Skype
One of the old school video conferencing platforms, which is primarily used today for business purposes, allows video conference calls for up to 50 people. It doesn’t have any time constraints and allows anyone to use it, regardless or not if they have an account.
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is a messaging app that allows chats, calls, and video conferencing all in one app. It allows up to 25 people on a video call with no time limits. It’s free to all Google users and is great for small groups of friends. It’s common for Google users to use this platform and makes it easier to have video conferences.
Google Meet
Not to be confused with Google Hangouts, Google Meet is Google’s premium video conferencing platform. It’s designed to be more for G-Suite uses on an enterprise level with the ability to host up to 250 participants, it will be free to the public with a limit of 100 people and no time constraint. Google has announced this will be available until the end of September.