Both the App Store and Google Play Store’s age ratings specify that, like most other social media services, it’s meant for an audience of 13 years or older. The app is very easy to use, although it relies heavily on users having a social media presence to connect them to their friends. They can, however, be disabled from your phone's main settings. Strangely, Houseparty doesn’t have a ‘Settings’ page, so we haven’t been able to find a way to turn the notifications off within the app. One thing that can be slightly annoying, though, is that every time one of your friends opens the app you receive a notification encouraging you to start a conversation. What are the downsides?įeedback from Houseparty’s users has been overwhelmingly positive and, after trying the app ourselves, we think there’s a lot to like. When you’re in a room, you can click the dice icon in the top-right corner and start a game such as Trivia or Quick Draw (similar to Pictionary). Games are a way to hang out without having a conversational agenda. In contrast, Houseparty’s drop-in approach encourages users to be spontaneous and to talk to people outside of their immediate social circle. With other video services, such as Skype and FaceTime, it’s usual to arrange a time for a call. Houseparty has two key differences: its ad-hoc, wandering-in nature due to the fact that friends of friends can join in and the ability to play games while chatting. Most video chatting services – for instance Zoom, FaceTime and Hangouts – have seen spikes in usage since the outbreak of coronavirus, connecting people who can no longer meet in cafes and other social spaces. How is it different from other video chat services?
To use the app, you must also give Houseparty permission to access your camera, microphone and location data. You’re then prompted to connect your account to other social media platforms, such as Facebook or Snapchat, to detect which of your friends are already on the app.
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When you download the app, you’re asked to give some personal information, including your phone number, so that Houseparty can verify your account and connect to your contacts. It's nice to mix it up a bit!” How does it work?
Right now, I'm mainly communicating with about five really good mates, but the app helps you touch base with friends who you don't usually ring. One young person told us: “I absolutely love it. It’s received a lot of praise online for being a great tool for impromptu catch-ups and for connecting with friends you might not otherwise call. While it’s been fairly popular since its 2016 launch, it’s seen a huge increase in downloads since coronavirus took hold and is currently the #1 app on both the App Store and the Google Play Store.Īs with an actual house party, you can jump between rooms and come and go as you please. Houseparty is an app that allows up to eight people to have a virtual ‘party’ via video chat. It’s easy to see why: it enables young people stuck at home to hang out with friends more informally than on other video conferencing apps. Since the coronavirus crisis started, the video-chatting app Houseparty has enjoyed a surge in popularity. In these strange times, young people can feel very cut off from their friends.
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