(Photo by Rob Hampson on Unsplash)
With many of us stuck at home during the pandemic, at times there’s nothing better to do than be glued to our phones. There have been a bunch of different apps during quarantine that have consumed us and made our time at home a bit more bearable. We asked around. And, DRUMROLL PLEASE … here is our round-up (in no particular order) of some of top apps of quarantine.
- Dispo
Dispo is a photo-sharing app that acts just like a real disposable camera. The app allows you to take photos that look like they were taken on a disposable camera, but with your phone’s own camera. And just like in real life, you have to wait until the next day at 9 a.m. for your pictures to “develop.”
As someone who has had a cell phone since I was 10 years old, I’m really used to getting the instant gratification of knowing how a photo turns out right away. But this app is really good for those who want to get a bit more creative with their iPhone photos.
- Clubhouse
Clubhouse is an exclusive invite-only audio chat app. The app’s origin story dates back to the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. The app allows groups of people to engage in audio-only drop-in chat rooms. Once you’re in the app you can choose to follow conversations about many different topics.
I asked Marjerrie Masicat, a visual designer at YR Media, what attracted her to the new social platform. She said, “I love how it feels like I’m listening in on a live podcast. Unlike other social media platforms, interacting on Clubhouse feels very low stakes since it’s an audio-only based app. I don’t have to look presentable like on Zoom calls; I can be listening in on my toilet and no one would know. It’s also nice that I can choose to listen in on a conversation or choose to ‘raise my hand’ and talk at any time. The diversity of topics on the app means there is a space for anyone and everyone to engage with each other.”
- Among Us
Although Among Us has been out since 2018, the game became a hit in 2020. Among Us is a multiplayer game where each player is assigned a secret role of “crewmate” or “imposter.” It’s kind of like a game of survival where you have tasks to do and find the imposter. And alternatively — if you’re the imposter — attempt to kill the crewmates without getting caught.
This game is super fun to grab some friends or family and try it out! The game is exciting and definitely a bit anxiety inducing — but trust me it’s worth it. Once you start playing you’ll be hooked.
- TikTok
We can’t give you a list of the top apps of quarantine without including TikTok. The app has taken over many of our phones and lives, honestly. I know I can spend hours scrolling through my ‘for you page’ without realizing how much time has gone by.
There is so much content on the app and I almost guarantee there is something on there for everyone. From mental health tips from real life therapists to dance challenges, the algorithm will find a way to cater your feed to your needs.
- Robinhood
I’m pretty sure by now, everyone is pretty familiar with the Gamestop debacle. But more than ever before, during the pandemic, many young people became interested and wanted to invest in the stock market. Even with the rise and fall of Gamestop, the Robinhood app has hooked people to stay on to navigate how to properly invest their money.
Although the app took off because of the whole Gamestop fiasco, I actually had Robinhood before that all went down. It’s super user-friendly and such an easy platform to understand and use. For me, it’s a great beginner platform.