How Did Social Media Play An Important Role In Making People Stay Engaged During COVID'19

COVID'19 really threw a wrench in everyone's lives, didn't it? The fear of getting sick, stuck inside – it took a serious toll on people's mental health. Since we'd never really been in a situation like this before, a lot of us were just baffled, not sure how to deal with it all. This article's gonna dive into how social platforms actually helped us cope through those super tough times, whether it was by keeping us connected, giving us a distraction, or even helping us learn new stuff and make a little money.

Impact of Social Media on People's Daily Routine:

When countries started locking down and telling everyone to stay put, social platforms really stepped up. They helped lift our spirits and gave us a break from constantly thinking about the pandemic. During the first few months of the pandemic in Q1 2020, people downloaded a whopping 31 billion apps globally. That's a huge jump, almost 15% more than the last quarter of 2019. When we were all feeling down about being stuck inside, social media was a lifesaver. We watched videos, listened to music, and got lost in reels and TikToks, which helped us forget about what was going on around us for a bit. We’d watch funny videos and other stuff that just grabbed our attention. For instance, folks who love cooking could actually improve their skills by watching chefs online and finding new cooking pages. Basically, we spent time consuming content we enjoyed, and that really helped fight off anxiety and depression.

Staying Connected Through Social Platforms:

Social platforms were a huge help in keeping us connected with our friends and family. Communication really ramped up through social apps. Facebook, for example, saw a 50% increase in messaging compared to normal. This was pretty much the same across most of the big social platforms. On Snapchat, sending snaps went way up, and people talking on calls also spiked by about 50%. Since we couldn't meet up in person during lockdown, video calls through social platforms became the norm. Being stuck at home gave us a lot of free time, and many of us used it to reconnect with old school and college buddies, reliving old memories. So, social platforms helped many of us get back in touch with people we'd lost track of in the daily grind. Facebook even ran a campaign, 'We are never lost if we can find each other,' which really hit home about how important it is to check in on people during these challenging times and how Facebook was acting as that communication bridge.

Staggering Rise In The Livestream:

A ton of events moved online through live streaming on social platforms because we couldn't go out to theaters, parks, or concerts. Comedians, singers, and other performers put on shows live on Facebook and Instagram. We could enjoy our favorite artists' performances right from our couches. On top of that, a lot of young people used this time to learn new skills by signing up for various online courses. Experts in different fields even held classes through live sessions on social platforms, saying they chose social media because it let them reach so many people. So, social platforms also helped people in all sorts of fields use their time productively and gain new knowledge.

The Rolling Out of 'Facebook MarketPlace':

We couldn't just go out and shop freely during lockdown, and honestly, there was a fear of catching Corona even when we went out for essentials. Keeping this in mind, Facebook rolled out Facebook Marketplace. This feature shows you shops in your local area and gives you details about their items, opening hours, and more. Lots of shops even started offering contactless delivery. Facebook Marketplace also helped vendors keep their goods moving, at least to some extent. Even restaurants got on board with the Marketplace. So, beyond just connecting and communicating, social platforms helped make sure we could still get food on our tables.

Exploring New Applications:

During the pandemic, most mobile users started trying out new apps. Besides our usual social platforms, people were downloading new apps from the play store and app store, which led to a big increase in the user base for many of them. This meant people were spread out across different social apps. Because of this, brands started looking at social apps beyond just Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for their promotions. They realized that these smaller platforms could offer access to more niche audiences, making them great for targeted advertising.

Celebrities And Social Platforms:

Governments used celebrities on social platforms to spread awareness about Corona. You'd see famous people reminding us to follow protocols like wearing masks and washing our hands regularly. These campaigns reached people mainly through social platforms because it was the most effective way to get the message out to a huge number of people quickly. Public figures and Tedx speakers also stepped up, giving motivational talks to boost people's morale.

Wrapping Up:

Social platforms were really at the forefront, helping people in so many ways to get through the tough COVID'19 times. Many folks lost their jobs or had their pay cut, leaving them feeling helpless and unsure how to cope. Professional social platforms like LinkedIn came to the rescue, connecting job seekers with recruiters. Industrial experts also shared ideas on how to navigate the situation through this forum. All in all, social platforms played a vital role in bringing people together.

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