It’s not all doom and gloom, we still have tech

March was a rough month. In the space of 30 days, clichéd as it sounds, the world has been tipped upside down. COVID-19 will most likely impact all of us in one shape or form.

Anyway, enough of the doom and gloom, let’s inject some positivity into this blog.

Positive things have come out of the worst crises and the latest coronavirus is no different, with technology being at the forefront of this.

One thing that has lifted my spirits over the last month is (and I can’t believe I’m actually typing this) TikTok.

I was the definition of a TikTok sceptic. I’m not too far removed from Gen Z but the concept of it just baffled me. How on earth is people lip-syncing over a pre-recorded song engaging? Although this may be a simplified description, what could stimulation could I get out of content that is often shorter than 15 seconds?

Answer: just look at my screen time stats…

The platform is growing on me. With a simple editing interface it has allowed not only members of Gen Z to grab their 15 seconds of fame but older generations as well — just take a look at Westhill park care home.

Yes there is a lot of rubbish on the app, but there is also some genuinely funny content (see all of Niall Gray’s profile!) At a time where everything seems a bit bleak, TikTok provides a light-hearted, quirky distraction. You never know, my next blog could be titled: ‘how I became a TikTok influencer’.

The COVID-19 lockdown has also seen innovative ways to carry out regular social activities. Cloud-based video conferencing service Zoom has suddenly created the highlights of many of our weeks.

A month ago, you would have been hard pressed to find someone who used Zoom outside of work, but in the past month the service has become integral to many people’s day-to-day lives.

Video conferencing has become an exercise class, a lecture, even a pub.

Many of my Friday nights over the past couple of weeks have seen me taking part in a Zoom pub quiz. Yes, it isn’t the same as huddling around a small table with your teammates as you try to win a free round of drinks, but the essence remains the same.

Perhaps more notably, it has helped me transition to working from home and allowed regular communication with friends and family.

We would all prefer to be living normal lives but there is no doubt that technology is helping to fill the void that this crisis has created.