quarantine trends:
march
TikTok
Zoom Although Zoom is commonplace now, in early March, many people had never heard about it before. Due to the need for social distancing, the platform became popular not only to help workplaces and schools continue but also to help family and friends communicate and stay in touch. People found creative ways to spend time together online which are still being used today.
Fostering Pets Early in the pandemic, animal shelters across the United States worked on finding homes for the animals they were housing. With everyone stuck at home, many people began to foster pets. Not only did some individuals find more time to take care of a pet thanks to quarantine, but some also found themselves wanting company while quarantining alone.
“Tiger King” On March 20th, Netflix released “Tiger King,” a documentary series revolving around the lives of those involved in the big cat industry. Most notably, the show focused on a man named Joe Exotic, a controversial figure in the commercial big cat industry, and Carole Baskin, another controversial figure who supports the protection of big cats. The show drew in many fans thanks to the various twists in the series and the eccentricity of the people involved.
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Fall 2020
a timeline TikTok has been a popular platform for a few years now; however, it has gained even more popularity since the beginning of the pandemic. The platform is made up of short videos, reminiscent of apps like Vine. Around August, the app was rumored to be shut down due to its connection with China. Still, the app survives and millions continue to use it.
Bread Baking Whether it is baking regular bread, banana bread, or sourdough (for the more adventurous), bread baking found its way into the lives of people with more free time than they knew what to do with. In mid-March, as many cities across the United States and around the world faced lockdowns, almost everyone seemed to find ways to relieve their stress through baking.
Animal Crossing
Also on March 20th, the Nintendo video game known as “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” was released. The game lets you establish and grow your own island with a variety of animal villagers. You can also visit islands that others have made. With all the restrictions placed on travel, this game continues to provide a virtual escape for many to this day.
Virtual Concerts In March, several artists cancelled their scheduled shows, sometimes months in advance. Due to the fact that live shows in public were now virtually impossible, they became possible virtually. Several organizations hosted concerts with a wide variety of musicians, and some artists held online shows themselves. For safety reasons, online concerts are still being hosted.