People are flocking to Omegle, a site that pairs users randomly for video and text chat. Even as modes of pandemic-friendly socialising are mastered, people are missing the random interactions of everyday life, and platforms like Omegle are recreating that element of chance.

Small and spontaneous social interactions play an important role in our wellbeing and feelings of connectedness, but as the pandemic shutters offices and public spaces, these types of interactions have been lacking. Cosmos Video – dubbed a Club Penguin for adults – is looking to recreate them virtually.

Rather than a traditional video call, the Caribu app is an interactive platform that focuses on fun and connection. Users can read together over the app, use digital coloring books, play games, and have virtual playdates with everyone from grandparents to friends from school.

Video calls may have helped to ease isolation during lockdown, but it’s not just humans that can provide a sense of connection. Canvas8 spoke to social psychologist Dr. Elaine Paravati Harrigan to understand how people are fulfilling social needs with or without others.