As most states and countries are on lockdown due to COVID-19, friends and families have been unable to see each other. Many are discovering new ways to “hang out” while still staying safe.

Most schools are using the app Zoom to communicate to their students at home by having online classes. Students took this app in their spare time and made it a way to have a group call with your friends and family. With room to fit 100 participants, most use this app to hangout, celebrate birthdays, or even have church meetings. 

With being unable to go out and traditionally going to the movie theater, Netflix Party is a great alternative. It may not be the exact same as the movie theater, but it allows you to chat and all pick a movie to watch together in the comfort of your own home.

Many have taken the interest in gaming with their friends. Online games have the access to Discord, which is a platform for gamers that specializes in text, image, video, and audio. You can talk to your friends while playing popular games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Minecraft, and many more. 

The popular iMessage games that had first appeared in 2011 have regained popularity. With little ways to communicate with loved ones, people have retaken an interest in challenging their friends and family to a game of 8ball, cup pong, chess, and more.

For those that are not an online person, there are other ways. Many have discovered “car social distancing”. You drive somewhere with your friends and park your cars six feet away from each other or more, and “hangout”. While it isn’t how we remembered it to be, it gives you a familiar face to look at until COVID-19 dies down.. 

Make sure you are staying safe and healthy during this pandemic! Ripon High misses you and can’t wait to see you again next school year!