Make no mistake, though: Hundreds of millions of people are using Zoom in remarkable and innovative ways every day. Weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, birthday parties, dance parties, and poker games have all taken place on Zoom.
Cooking and eating meals
Restaurants typically run on slim profit margins — often along the lines of 5 percent. Operating at 25-percent capacity doesn’t cut it. To this end, many have begun holding Zoom cooking classes and online tastings.Visiting sick friends and family members
Faced with travel restrictions, many people are “visiting” their loved ones confined to hospital beds in Zoom. No, it’s not the same as the real thing, but checking in on a dear friend or family member via Zoom beats a simple phone call.Dating
With so many bars, restaurants, and coffee shops closed, where do two people safely meet? How about on Zoom?Sharing a few drinks over Happy Hour
I’ll cop to doing this a few times with my college friends. Again, I’d prefer to talk trash with them in person but. Left with no other in-person alternative, though, Zoom more than serves this purpose.
©giuseppelombardo/Shutterstock.comPlaying brick-and-mortar games
I asked few of my former students if they used Zoom for social gatherings. Here’s one particularly colorful response: I play trivia games with my family in England every Saturday via Zoom.Sure, some games translate better than others, but you’d be surprised at how many games work reasonably well on Zoom.
Playing video games
You may not be able to use Twitch to play your favorite video game. If not, then give Zoom a shot.Watching movies and TV shows
As a kid, I would routinely watch Jeopardy! with my family. I’d sometimes go an entire show without answering a single question correctly.Although I live across the country from my family, I can now relive that experience with them via Zoom. (At least now I can answer about 40 percent of the questions correctly.) In fact, plenty of folks use Meetings & Chat to view movies and binge-watch series.
Performing stand-up comedy
Few things beat the feeling of laughing in unison with complete strangers as a comedian tears it up. In the midst of a pandemic, fans cannot see Gary Gulman or Neal Brennan live. Until then, however, I might watch some comedians perform via Zoom. Learn more.Staying fit
Since the age of 18, I have religiously gone to the gym. Broken fingers, the cold, and work-related commitments haven’t stopped me from getting my sweat on. Yeah, I’m a gym rat—and plenty of people can relate.Left without physical gyms, many people began working out over Zoom.