How to virtually hang out with your friends in the time of coronavirus
Staying socially isolated doesn’t mean you have to cancel your social plans. You just need to adjust them a bit. If you’ve got a webcam and an internet connection, you can still host dinner parties, happy hours, game nights, karaoke sessions and more.
Getting set up
It’s likely going to take a little trial and error to get set up the first time. When you're ready, if you want to see or hear your friends, there are a few options.
Phone call
You can always call people and use speakerphone. If you have friends or relatives who don’t feel confident setting up a webcam, hearing their voice is better than nothing.
FaceTime
If you both have Apple devices, you can FaceTime. You can set it up as a one-to-one video call or set up a Group FaceTime with up to 32 people (Group FaceTime requires newer devices and an updated iOS). If your hands are going to be occupied and you’re joining from a phone or iPad, make sure you’ve got a stack of books ready to lean your device up against.
Google Duo
If anyone in your planned get-together doesn’t have an Apple device, Google Duo is basically an Android version of FaceTime. The app is free to download. Up to 8 people can join a Duo call. The Palm phone is very small, but it runs the full version of Android.
Skype
Up to 10 people can join a Skype group video call. Skype is free to download and works on phones, tablets and computers with webcams. If you’re playing host, it’ll be easier to set up the call if you’re on a laptop or desktop computer, but other participants don’t have to be.
Google Hangouts
If you have Gmail, that means you already have a Google account you can use to set up Hangouts for free. Up to 25 people can join a video Hangout and up to 150 people can join a voice-only Hangout.
Zoom
Zoom allows free one-on-one video meetings for as long as you want or for three or more people for up to 40 minutes with their free plan. (Probably a little short for game night.) The next tier at $14.99 a month lets you set up video calls for up to 100 participants and for up to 24 hours long. (Probably long enough for game night.)
What to do: Dinner party/happy hour
Everyone joins the videoconference and then eats or drinks. Quartz has some ideas for dinner party conversation starters if you run out of things to talk about.
Karaoke
All your favorite karaoke haunts are closed, but that doesn’t mean the singing has to stop. Gather your friends for some karaoke through Google Hangouts or Skype.
Watch party
Social distancing doesn’t mean you have to Netflix and chill alone. The streaming service has a Google Chrome extension called Netflix Party where friends can watch movies together and share their reactions through a chat room. All you need is Google Chrome browser, an extension and a Netflix account. You can do the same on Facebook.
Book club
Pick a book to read with loved ones and video call each other to chat about it. Libraries might be closed, but you can still get ebooks online through many of them. This is also a great opportunity to support independent bookstores in your area by buying your book-club picks online. Many are offering free or reduced shipping costs and curbside pickup. If your group doesn’t have the attention span for a whole book — or if you want to get together sooner — you can all decide to read the same longform article. Longreads’ “Best of 2019" list is a good place to find one.
Game night
Just because going out is canceled doesn’t mean game night has to be. You’ve got a few different options for recreating your weekend plans here. Pro tip: If you’re playing a game you’ve never played before, you might consider watching a YouTube video of someone playing it and explaining it.
Game night idea: Analog board games
If you and your friends have a copy of the same board game on your shelf at home, you can all set it up and just move the pieces at the same time. Think of it as the modern version of chess by mail. (Incidentally, this would also work if you and a friend both have a chessboard.) This is easiest with games that only require dice rolls. Something like Cards Against Humanity or Apples to Apples could work too if you all have it.
Game night idea: App games
Words With Friends, Draw Something and other app games are still kicking around and just waiting for you to challenge someone. You can be on a video call from your computer and playing together on your phones at the same time.
Game night idea: Social games
If you and your friends are already into “Overwatch” and “Fortnite,” you don’t need us to tell you what to do. Have fun. If you and your friend both have a Nintendo Switch, you can get classics such as “Mario Kart” and play together. If you want to play with a group, the Jackbox Party Pack is a crowd-pleaser perfectly suited to social isolation. Everyone plays using their phone as a controller, so you can all be in the same room or on opposite sides of the planet.
Game night idea: Tabletop RPGs
There has truly never been a better time to get into Dungeons and Dragons. The game master needs a copy of the rules (the makers of D&D offer a short version for free online) and a rough understanding of the basics. Other players only need a pencil, paper and dice (or an app that simulates dice-rolling).
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