Software for Virtual Socializing

Ideas for Virtual Socializing

Skype

• "Skype makes it easy to stay in touch.  Talk. Chat. Collaborate."
  https://www.skype.com/en/
• Free, although you can buy plans
• can be a little touchy when data loads are high

Zoom

• Designed from the ground up for integration of multimedia workspaces.
• There is a free basic plan, which allows you to "Host up to 100 participants, Unlimited 1 to 1 meetings; 40 mins limit on group meetings, and Unlimited number of meetings"
• Make sure that you turn off screen  sharing unless you trust every person who is joining in.... 
• https://zoom.us/pricing

Facetime

• Integrated into every single Apple product
• For early versions, only 1:1 video calls.  For more recent versions, video group chats are possible.
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209022

Socializing is an important way to keep people from getting depressed or feeling isolated.  Make it fun by making it creative.
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Virtual Happy Hour

• Schedule a time to get together with friends and family to raise a beverage of choice

Virtual Progressive Dinner

• Schedule a time to host a progressive dinner where each participant demonstrates how to make a dish.  Send recipes before so everyone can get the ingredients and follow along.  
• Bonus points: use pantry stuff in new and unusual ways in order to keep people from having to go to the store

Virtual Game Time

• Schedule a time to play group games, like MadLibs
• The host can "share" a white board on Zoom or point their camera at the drawing board

Virtual Book or Movie Club

• Make time each week to discuss a book or a movie with a group of friends
• Learn something new in a virtual group: read a chapter of a textbook each week and then discuss what you've learned.  Maybe even in a foreign language.
• Alternatively, form an educational collective: everyone gets a turn at teaching the group something new.