Online calling apps provide chatrooms for those missing regular hangouts

Free mobile apps like WhatsApp, Duo and Instagram, as well as paid apps like Zoom, are now seeing a surge in users in the city. According to Praveshika Kumar, an employee with a digital marketing company, a work-related meeting is now faster on the digital space.

“For personal calls, we use WhatsApp, because it’s a lot safer and convenient. While it doesn’t completely replace meeting face-to-face, it does fill in the gap because of COVID-19 rules. However, the only issue is that people can get hooked onto it, and expect calls every day, which is something I’ve lately fallen into,” said the 22-year-old.

Those celebrating their birthdays this month might not be able to meet each other, but these apps have offered an interesting way to work around the issue.

According to Vinod Reddy, who turned 63 on Sunday, his group of friends – seven couples self-dubbed as the ‘Ocean’s 14’ – have scheduled a videoconference in the evening on the browser application Jitsi.

“We will sit together with our favourite drinks and food and celebrate my birthday. I find video-calling to be more fulfilling as people usually do not talk over each other, while in a party, people are usually sequestered off into their own little groups. Zoom is a little difficult for the technically challenged, so Jitsi is a great alternative. You can even schedule meetings, as I have for my birthday,” he said. Local educational institutions have also turned to video calling to hold classes. “With schools shut, parents have been clamouring for online classes to keep the children entertained,” said Mohana Lakshmi, founder of Kidspreneur.

“Online classes are fun, even for us. You can communicate with emojis and gifs. When the children start getting bored, we even take a break to sing a song or shake your legs. It’s great because even the shy, quiet kids have started contributing a lot because they no longer feel stagefright as they are in the comfort zone of their home,” she said.