- Communication tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have seen downloads spike as people are encouraged to stay in their homes due to the coronavirus.
- Houseparty, a video-chatting app especially popular with Gen Z, is also gaining some popularity, and it’s now the 14th most popular free app in the App Store.
- The coronavirus outbreak has killed 10,000 people worldwide and infected more than 246,000, according to recent totals.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
With people forced to work and learn from home, apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack have seen spikes in downloads as they become essential to daily life. When you sign off for the day, you might find yourself longing for some social contact other than through video calls with your coworkers.
Houseparty is a video-chatting app that lets you have a virtual party with up to 8 people. In June 2019, Houseparty was acquired by Epic Games, the makers of Fortnite, for an undisclosed amount, but the app originally launched in 2016. It’s now regaining popularity as experts warn about the importance of social distancing in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
As of Friday, COVID-19, the coronavirus disease, has infected more than 246,000 people worldwide, and has killed more than 10,000. On March 11, the World Health Organization officially declared it a pandemic. The virus has disrupted travel worldwide, leading to flight cancellations, quarantines, and other breakdowns in movement. New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington state, among other US locations, have closed bars and restaurants except for takeout as a way to encourage people remain home.
Here’s how to use Houseparty to stay in touch with your friends and socialize – from a distance.
First, download Houseparty from the App Store or Google Play Store.
The app is currently number 14 in the App Store, ranked above Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Snapchat.
You'll be prompted to connect to Snapchat or your phone for contacts.
I didn't sync all my contacts, but I did login with Snapchat to use my Bitmoji.
When you first open the app, you'll see yourself on the front-facing camera, with a few options available.
Swipe up, and you'll see your best friends on Houseparty. I had just downloaded the app, so I didn't have any friends yet.
Then, Houseparty will ask you to add friends.
Since my whole family is isolating in our house, I asked my brother to help me out and download the app. I sent him the download link that would add me as a friend after he joined Houseparty.
Once he added me, I got a notification in the app. It also told me that he was "in the house," or on the call.
Houseparty gives a split screen look at callers in the house.
Selecting the dice in the corner bring up a few game options.
We tested out the entertainment trivia option — and I won.
The plus button on the upper-right corner, right above the dice, give you the option to add or invite friends.
You can do this during a call with a friend or even while in the middle of a game.
To test out a call with more people, I added my sister, too. Houseparty allows up to 8 people per call.
In the bottom of the screen, the open-lock indicates that other contacts can join and members can add more people to the call.
Tapping the button once locks the room.
When a room is locked, no one else can join, and everyone on the call gets a banner notification.
The smiley face button on the top left gives an overview of friends and notification settings.
The dots on the bottom-left corner give you 3 options: Share Screen, Record Facemail, and Disable Camera. Sharing your screen and disabling the camera do exactly what they say they do.
Sending a Facemail is like leaving a video message for someone that they'll get whenever they open the app next. Hold down the button to record.
