socializingduring covid
I
n the past on her birthday, junior Akosua Danso could always expect a few rushed but enthusiastic exclamations of “Happy birthday!” when she passed her friends in the halls. However, due to COVID-19, she barely even saw her friends on her birthday this year. “I have interacted with a lot of the friends that I see only at school,” Danso said. “Most of my friends actually missed my birthday.” For many students, socializing and finding a place among their peers are critical parts of their high school experience. However, in the age of COVID-19, meeting with other people in-person can be dangerous. As a result, students have become more creative in how they interact with their peers while still staying safe. Some students have been able to adapt to COVID-19 by taking to the internet. “Even before, my primary means of interaction with my social group was online voice and text
chats, so there is not very much of a difference in that regard,” senior Theo Weiss said. “I don’t really meet anyone new, but that also remains pretty much consistent.” In regards to communicating, Weiss said that they usually use programs like Discord, which allows people to voice chat and play video games together over the internet. When it comes to seeing others face-to-face, they sometimes meet with their friends in-person while following social-distancing guidelines. “The guidelines that I follow for a small group are to wear masks at all times, follow social distancing policies when possible and not eat or drink anything when near others,” Weiss said. Meanwhile, other students have noticed COVID-19 more negatively impacting their relationships. “COVID messed up my social life,” Carrillo said. “[I] don’t talk to some people because I
DURING MARCH OVERALL, VIDEO GAME SALES APPROACHED
$1.6 BILLION
a 35% year-over-year increase (according to NPD) https://www.washingtonpost.com/videogames/2020/05/12/video-game-industry-coronavirus/
6
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
~5 MILLION
estimated # of copies sold https://videogamesstats.com/animalcrossing-new-horizons-facts/
