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Online Communication Platforms See Record Rise Since Quarantine Began

As social distancing becomes the new normal, online communication platforms have seen unprecedented growth among those looking to stay in touch.

Jason Cohen
 & Jason Cohen Senior Editor, Help & How To

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Since the world went into quarantine, many people are now relying on online communication tools to stay connected with friends, family, and coworkers. Many apps out there are being used to socialize and even to date, but have you wondered which platforms have become the most popular?

Data trends provider SEMrush tracked Google search volume over the months of February and March to see exactly which services people look up the most. They found that tools used for messaging, video calling, and collaboration gained the most interest as people use them to socialize and do business.  

Among the top in search growth is Netflix Party, with a 5,422.39 percent growth in search volume. The Chrome extension adds a chat feature to Netflix and synchronizes video for socializing; it now has over 8 million downloads from the Chrome Web Store. The social-media and video-chat hybrid app Houseparty saw a 2,940.65 percent growth and received two million downloads in the span of a week.

After these social-focused services, SEMrush's list of most popular apps is dominated by video calling. Zoom has seen 1,562 percent growth, despite Zoom-bombing security issues that resulted in NYC schools and the US government banning its use.

Other video conferencing services that have seen a major boost in search traffic are Google Hangouts (513.11 percent), GoToMeeting (307.1 percent), BlueJeans (306.63 percent), Join.Me (171.62 percent), and Rave.io(83.05 percent). 

Related

Messaging apps including Slack and WhatsApp have also seen a rise in search volume, at 82.69 percent and 48.53 percent, respectively. As a result, Slack reported the addition of 9,000 users in the first quarter of 2020, and WhatsApp has seen a 40 percent increase in app usage. 

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About Our Expert

Jason Cohen

Jason Cohen

Senior Editor, Help & How To

My Experience

As PCMag's editor of how to content, I have to cover a wide variety of topics and also make our stories accessible to everyday users. Considering my history as a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets, I am used to making myself into an expert.

I believe tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. Want more how to content delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the tips and tricks newsletter that I curate twice a week.

The Technology I Use

My job as how-to guru means I use just about every gadget under the sun, so I can figure out how everything works. I work from a Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11, but also have a very large Dell Inspiron 17 3000 and Apple silicon MacBook. I also have a Google Pixel 6a for personal use and use a Galaxy Z Flip 4 for additional Samsung-related testing. For iOS coverage, an iPhone 13 mini works like a charm, though it's already becoming a little long in the tooth.

My desktop situation includes a dual monitor setup with a modest Acer monitor. I also use a Logitech mouse (who can use these ThinkPad trackpads) and a Havit keyboard (my first mechanical keyboard; I love it but my wife hates it!). I'm a recent convert from wired headphones; I have Anker Soundcore Liberty Air wireless earbuds for personal use and have taken to the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones for work.

Whenever I have a second to myself, I'm probably gaming on my Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or Xbox Series S. I also still have a bunch of classic consoles lying around as well.

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