Call it remote entertainment, a counterpart to the more-familiar remote work. The pandemic gave this burgeoning phenomenon a boost, pushing into the mainstream what had previously been the domain of gamers, overseas soldiers and other sub-communities. "We've all learned how to engage online more than ever," Shafi said, comparing remote entertainment to a muscle that consumers and creators have both strengthened during quarantine. It's hard to detract away from the convenience that remote work and remote entertainment provide." From now on, when people are homesick or even just lonely, apps like Teleparty and Discord will be among the default activities they turn to.
