Maintaining social connections in the age of corona is tough—but that doesn’t mean you can’t (and shouldn’t!) foster relationships digitally. Although you may not be able to see your besties in person for the time being, there are a variety of easy, creative ways to keep in touch. In fact, with your busy day-to-day lifestyle temporarily on hold, you may find yourself spending even more quality time with friends. Companies like Netflix, Rumble, and more are specifically catering to your needs, creating special programs that allow you to stay social. See below for ten clever ways to remain connected while in quarantine. 

1. Host a Netflix Party.

Have a long-distance movie marathon with your BFFs thanks to this new Chrome extension, which synchronizes video playback and allows you to group chat while watching. A variety of new shows and films are being added to the streaming platform this month, including Despicable Me, Nailed It!: Season 4, and The Hangover.


2. Have a daily meme exchange.

Throughout the day, send your besties memes--whether through iMessage or Instagram DM--that ensure endless laughs. Search “#coronamemes” on social media for hundreds of thousands of options to share.


3. Make a lunch date over FaceTime.

Set up your computer across from you at the dining room table as if your friend is actually there. Feel free to “cheers” through the camera!


4. Try a Rumble at-home Instagram Live workout.

Just because Rumble boxing classes across the globe are suspended doesn’t mean you can’t get your sweat on with their instructors: the company is hosting workouts every week on Instagram Live that only require your body weight. Tune in at the same time as your BFF, and FaceTime afterward to complain about your shared soreness!


5. Dance through a TikTok duet.

New dance challenges emerge every day on the video-sharing app. Show off your moves, then encourage a friend to duet you, so it appears like you’re moving side by side!


6. Plan a virtual dance party.

Invite up to 100 people to a Zoom dance party, where everyone takes turns playing music from their playlists. Watching your besties break out their best skills will leave you feeling all the more energized.


7. Start a book club.

Gather a group of your closest pals and choose one book for all of you to read. Set a dedicated plan (i.e., five chapters per week), and congregate via Zoom to discuss and analyze the plot.


8. Engage in a group writing sesh.

Google Docs allows multiple people to contribute to a document at the same time, so feel free to swap recipes, list movie recommendations, or record social distancing activities together.


9. Play an online board game.

Tabletopia features over 800 games online to play for free, including Chess, Santorini, and Roll Player. Of course, there are always traditional apps like Words With Friends and Minecraft to challenge your BFFs as well.


10. Throw a digital fashion show.

FaceTime your friend and show off some of the best pieces from your closet. Once the quarantine is over, you two will be the first to hit the streets in style.