‘Thriving social life’ is probably not the first thing you think of when it comes to quarantine. For the extroverts out there – fear not, we’ve got everything you need so you don’t need to miss a minute of the fun (disclaimer: friends not included). While millennials are ignoring pleas and continuing with their frowned upon – and quite frankly dangerous – partying, the rest of us are socializing from the comfort of our own couch doing whatever we might please. How, you ask? Here’s how to keep your social life thriving during quarantine. 

keep your social life thriving during quarantine

Zoom is your best quarantine friend

Forget Skype and Facetime – Zoom is where it’s at. Almost overnight the video conferencing app skyrocketed in both shares – the company is now valued at $29 billion – and downloads. Zoom has seen more subscribers in the past 3 months than it saw in the whole of 2019, and is officially the most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store. And with good reason – it’s a party in there! 

And it’s easy to use – simply sign up, login and “create a meeting”. Send the link to all your mates and get everyone to turn their cameras on. Whether you’re having an intimate dinner date for 4, book club for 12, or a college party for 1000, Zoom caters to everyone’s needs with good quality video and chat options. Whether you’re looking for art shows, volunteer opportunities, religious ceremonies, or just a hang out of your fav people, Zoom is here for you.

FYI: Free for up to 100 people, $14.99 for bigger crowds.

keep your social life thriving during quarantine

You can still find love in quarantine

You can! And you have options. Plenty of Fish, one of the bigger dating platforms, offers a speed dating video option for singles around the world. It even allows you to break off into your own chat if sparks are flying. Tinder has recently made their passport feature (allowing you to meet people outside of your area) free for all to enjoy. And then there’s Quaranbae (yip), a college dating service that matches eager participants with students around the country. Each Friday, they use AI algorithms to set up blind Zoom dates, and hey it seems to be working – they’ve made 13,000 matches to date.

If you’ve already got a sig oth that happens not to be in quarantine with you, FaceTime is our romantic, one-on-one go to option. Be sure to have candles at the ready.

You don’t need to miss quiz nights

Video calling with friends is one thing, but taking part in a virtual quiz night? A whole other ball game. Jump into Houseparty to take advantage of their exhaustive list of quiz options. You can invite as many people as you like, and play the night away. Jackbox games has a Party Pack that also offers a virtual array of quiz games, but will set you back $20.99 (the Jackbox Party Pack 6 is on sale now). You can play through Zoom, Google Hangouts, Discord, or even open your game to the public through Youtube or Twitch. Here are plenty more options for playing games with friends when looking at how to keep your social life thriving during quarantine.

keep your social life thriving during quarantine

Miss meeting new people? 

Like Zoom, Discord is also having a spotlight moment. Now you can use it to connect to strangers outside of your social circle. Consider it a massive message board, connecting thousands of users around the world, although without the video chat option. Create a new meeting (similar to Zoom), or join in on one already created (tip: look invites up on social media, they’re usually not too hard to come by). It was originally designed for gamers, and works perfectly for connecting with friends while also doing something else on the side (like gaming).

Netflix and Chill with friends from your own couches

Netflix and Chilling has recently been upgraded with a Google Chrome extention that allows you to chat to your friends while you watch your fav shows together. Sounds like a multitasking nightmare to me, but for others – jackpot. You’ll need a Netflix account and Google Chrome. Download the extension here and they’ll run it through you. SPOILER ALERT – whoever’s watching with you might not be entirely synced, so easy on the bomb drops.

Miss getting your groove on?

You still can, it’s 2020 after all, who hasn’t been to a virtual dance party? (Definitely me). An app called Plug.DJ allows everyone at your party to add their choice of music videos to a master list, and chat (text) while the list unwinds. Be sure to invite friends of similar taste, other than that the night is yours.

You don’t even have to miss poker night with the boys

That’s right gents, you can still have your weekly poker nights. Sign up on Zynga Poker, create a table and invite your friends – no deposit required. You can play the night away with your choice of snack and beverages (no more politely eating Simon’s wife’s vegan “sausage rolls”) and chat to your buddies while you’re at it. If online casinos are your thing – check out these top online casinos.


If that’s not enough to entertain you during the next few weeks of quarantine, you should keep your eye out for the rest of the content we’ll be unleashing. While we all #StaySafeStayHome, there’s no need to let that social life unravel. Connect with people around the world through these many channels and embrace a new way of life. Here’s our top tips on how to keep your social life thriving during quarantine.