"Live Chilling" replaces hanging out with friends
In today's technology-focused world, even the formerly sacred act of hanging out with friends is not safe. According to the Wall Street Journal, popular apps such as Houseparty, Fam, and Kik are slowly replacing real-life interactions with friends by allowing users to join a virtual group from anywhere using their smartphones and computers.
The apps leverage the cameras and speakers already present on phones to let joiners video chat freely, and it is this easy access that is encouraging kids to leave the apps open for hours while friends come and go to the "party."
Although a bit alarming, there are some tradeoffs to this method of hanging out. On the one hand, it helps encourage kids to live a more sedentary lifestyle, but it also helps to replace less engaging activities like watching TV.
