Virtual worlds like Second Life, as well as massively multiplayer online games like World of Warcraft, have been around for decades, but the Covid-19 lockdown presents an opportunity to revisit them and to explore what we want in an online destination. Why not add a virtual world to your next video call? Having a place to socialize, even a digital one, can make connecting through a computer far more enjoyable-even if you think you don’t like videogames. Fun backgrounds aren’t enough to feel like you’re at a real party or hangout, or at least not a good one, especially if you’re spending most of the time staring at your own face on screen.
Social gatherings are transformed into formal meetings-exactly what Zoom was designed to facilitate but not what you always want. On Zoom, the conversational format is essentially "virtual sharing circle," where one person can talk at a time and you're never completely sure whose turn is next. What’ is less expected is that a piece of corporate software, often terrible at mimicking real social interaction, has emerged as the hottest app of the pandemic. “ Zoom happy hour” has officially entered the nomenclature, and some people are even suffering from “ Zoom fatigue.” Millions of Americans have now been confined to their homes for weeks or months, so it’s no surprise they’re relying more on video chat. It’s where college kids throw parties and how elementary school students attend class (at least until their teachers get Zoombombed).
In a matter of weeks, Zoom has gone from obscure business app to household name.
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