The eight apps that are helping to get us through lockdown
How have you coped with lockdown? Here are the eight apps that have been helping us to get through it.
With our social lives brought to a temporary halt, our access to goods and services limited, and our jobs going remote, there has never been a time where digital connectivity has been more important.
Fortunately, with the help of digital apps, businesses have been able to keep running from home, family and friends have maintained contact, and we’ve even been able to have our shopping is delivered direct to our doorstep.
Not to mention, people have been able to share every moment of lockdown with their social media followers – whether this be baking banana bread, lounging in the garden, or choreographing a new dance routine with the kids.
Of course, apps already played a significant role in our lives pre-covid-19. But, the coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on the types of apps we use – and the frequency with which we use them.
New research by Carphone Warehouse has revealed which apps are getting us through lockdown, based on data collected from Twitter discussions. Here’s the rundown.
1) Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is largely used by businesses as a communication tool, with functionalities to send instant messages, carry out voice and video calls, share your screen with others and upload files. So, with lots of companies going remote during lockdown, it’s quickly become integrated into working life.
2) Zoom
Relatively unheard of before the lockdown, Zoom has zoomedinto second place on the list of most discussed apps. Like Teams, the video conferencing app is used a lot among businesses, though many people have taken to it for regular catch ups with friends and family. Virtual quiz anyone?
3) Houseparty
Newcomer on the app scene, Houseparty was a huge hit when lockdown first began and the world was seeking new ways of maintaining a social life. The video calling app allows friends and family to hold virtual “house parties” and play integrated games. Tweets suggest the app is most popular on Wednesdays at 10pm – are Wednesdays the new Fridays?
4) Disney+
Having only launched in the last few months, Disney+ couldn’t have come at a better time – with endless Disney content to enjoy through lockdown. And it doesn’t seem to have disappointed fans. Twitter saw a huge spike in mentions of Disney+ on 3 April – the day they released Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episode 707.
5) Duolingo
With time on our hands at home, it’s a great opportunity to learn a language. Lots of people seeking new hobbies have flocked to Duolingo to master a new tongue – French and Spanish, in particular. It’s also a great way to keep children stimulated while they’re out of school.
6) Headspace
The lockdown has been a mentally challenging time for many of us, with lifestyles changing drastically over the last couple of months. Headspace is a mental health and meditation app, offering tools and resources to support users’ wellbeing.
One of the trending topics related to the app on Twitter was ‘weathering the storm’, representing the potentially negative impact the lockdown is having on mental wellbeing.
7) Calm
Also committed to mental wellbeing, Calm is a mediation and relaxation app, boasting material to help people to focus, relax and sleep. Top emojis used when talking about the app on Twitter include ‘hugging face’, ‘sleeping face’ and ‘blue heart’, with a top trending topic being ‘sleep story’.
8) Nextdoor
One thing that’s come from the lockdown is a sense of community and togetherness, with many people reaching out to their vulnerable neighbours to offer help.
Nextdoor is an app that helps you do just that. It connects people with others in the neighbourhood to find services, share local information, organise events and sell belongings – a good one for anyone using this time to clear out the garage!
Of course, there’s an abundance of other apps keeping us connected, entertained and sane through these times, and there’s no doubt even more will crop up too.
Photo by Tim Mossholder
