COVID-19 Crisis Perspective: Staying [Digitally] Connected

We can do this!

If social distancing has taught us one thing, it is that we don’t have to do it alone. In fact, the internet has brought us together in ways we never considered, showcasing the heart of humanity during our toughest moments. From Zoom birthday parties to virtual happy hours, the digital world has created this collective effect like never before. And there’s nothing more human than that.

The current state of our nation has shaped the evolution of entertainment to cater to people staying at home. Below are a few examples of ways this has happened:

1. Bandsintown, a concert notification service, has added live stream concert alerts as more musicians perform online. The service can now push out a “watch live” notification when musicians are live-streaming shows. Additionally, Bandsintown has launched its own Twitch channel, with all proceeds going to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
2. As theaters across the United States and beyond close temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, major studios are making movies available on digital platforms earlier than otherwise anticipated. These include Disney’s Onward, Frozen 2, Birds of Prey, The Way Back, and more.
3. The development of theNetflix Party Chrome extension allows friends and family to simultaneously stream shows and movies on their desktops. There’s also a chat sidebar where you and your friends can discuss what’s going on in a movie; it’s as if you were sitting together on a couch!

Hundreds of companies have made their resources free and available to the public during this time:

Health & Fitness

• ClassPass virtual workouts: 14 days free and there’s a Salesforce corporate discount
• Peloton app: App is currently free for new users for 90 days. Classes include various formats such as strength training, boot camps, meditation, yoga, and outdoor walking/running classes. (no bike needed!)
• AArmy: Classes on Instagram Live
• YouTube channels: Yoga with Adriene, POPSUGAR Fitness and Blogilates

Education

• 450 Ivy League Courses you can take for free
• Brit + Co classes are free for the next two weeks; use coupon code SELFCARE at checkout
• Free educational courses for kids due to school closings

Entertainment

• The Seattle Symphony is livestreaming its programs for free
• Diplo is hosting live DJ sets on his Instagram
• The Met is streaming performances for free
• Verizon launches a weekly streaming entertainment series to benefit small businesses

Originally published at https://www.pmg.com on April 14, 2020.