How To Find Friends Using Safe Video Chatting Portals

In today’s times of the COVID – 19 pandemic and the social distancing norms that are still in force, life has become quite secluded for most people. Socializing, going out for movies, meeting people on dates is but a distant dream still. Given these restrictions, video chatting portals have seen a considerable upswing in the last year. These video apps are the most convenient way of connecting with family and friends located far and wide as well as a novel form of forging new bonds. People are scurrying towards these virtual friend finder apps to have distant socializing in times of social distancing.

However, with so many video chatting portals available today, it can be quite a daunting task to find a reliable one to start your virtual sojourn of finding friends. Each video chatting app is packaged beautifully, showcasing all its features but only when you read the fine print do you understand the underlying conditions and costs. Hence, it is pertinent to do a thorough study of the available video chatting portals and do an elimination through informed selection. Follow this checklist before deciding on any one video chatting portal and you are sure to find a secure app.

1. Check security features

The most quintessential thing lookout for, while hunting for your favorite app, is the security feature. Many fraudsters are lurking around in the virtual world just to nab innocent people and you don’t want to be easy prey. While scouting around for a video chatting portal, always check for these:

2. Look out for the anonymity feature

While video chatting is a fun activity, it can also be quite intimidating for someone shy. You may not be comfortable sharing your personal details and picture initially with someone. One of the most important features to look out for in this case is a video chatting portal’s anonymity. This allows you to maintain your privacy till the time you get to know the person well. Popular video chatting portal Camfrog allows users to maintain their confidentiality until they are ready to share it. This helps them ease into the idea of video chatting with a stranger and makes them more confident of having conversations without any inhibitions. This feature also works as a security measure in the initial days of chatting when you do not know the person and his/her intentions.

3. Read reviews

One way to find out about the popularity and authenticity of any video chatting portal is to read other people’s reviews about it. The more positive reviews, the better it is for you. A simple google search will be able to tell you about what people think of the app. In fact, most of the apps also have a viewer’s or user’s review section, where you can read comments about the portal. This should give you a fair idea about the video chatting app.

4. Thorough study and research

With hundreds of video chatting portals making their entry, it becomes quite tough to find the perfect one for your needs. It requires thorough research and reading about each portal’s features, privacy policy, users’ reviews and costs. Be wary of hidden costs and other terms that are mentioned in the fine print. It will help if you have a keen eye so you can make an informed choice.

5. Create an authentic profile

After having decided on the video chatting app, you need to create a profile. These pointers should help you create a genuine profile.

6. Do not divulge personal details

Even though most of the video chatting portals are end-to-end encrypted and follow all safety procedures, it is still best not to disclose any personal details in the initial conversations. Abstain from giving out details like residential address, pictures, and other information. Get to know the person well, understand him/her and know his/her intentions, only then reveal more of yourself. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry!

7. Keep conversations casual and informal

It is best to keep the chats fun, casual and informal. In fact, many of the video chatting apps like Camfrog have interesting features like Gifts and Stickers, where you can give virtual gifts to your new friends. These work as great ice-breakers and also ease out the conversations. Besides these, you can also join the public chat rooms where you get to meet more people and have common topics to discuss. There are topic or interest-oriented chat rooms that you can be a part of depending on your interest.

8. Speak as much as you listen

Conversations are two-way, so it is pertinent to speak as much as you listen. Monologuing is undoubtedly not the way to make new friends. Share your point of view on matters but also be interested in listening to the other person. It will make the chatting sessions more interactive and help you find out more about the person. In fact, you should encourage the person to speak by asking him/her about their interests, likes, dislikes and more. Forge a healthy relationship from the start, and who knows, it might blossom into a long-lasting bond.

9. Avoid downloading files from strangers

File sharing in the form of pictures, videos and audios is an excellent feature that a lot of video chatting apps have. It makes conversations more interactive and inclusive. You can share photos about your latest holiday or exchange YouTube videos about exciting debates and discussions.

10. Focus on good video and audio quality

Another critical aspect of finding friends through video chatting portals is to have clear audio and video capability. You cannot have time-lags and pixelated images while chatting. It will disrupt the flow of conversation. So ensure that you have a stable, high-speed broadband connection. Also, get a high-resolution webcam for better image quality and pick up a pair of headphones with a microphone for better audio.

11. Multi-platform support

You might choose to use an Android device today but later switch to an iPhone. If your video chatting app does not have multi-platform support, it will disrupt your budding friendship. So lookout for a video chatting app that supports all kinds of platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows and Linux. Also, regularly update the app so that the speed is reduced and it does not take up too much space on your device.

Conclusion

Video chatting is an excellent alternative to finding friends when a physical meeting is difficult. And with the modern feature-heavy video chatting portals, it is almost like meeting someone in real life. It has made it convenient and safe to find new friends and also keep in touch with old ones. Every app is trying to better itself as compared to the other, offering an increasing number of features. Today, you can not only speak and see them but also share pictures, videos, audios and much more through this medium. However, it would help if you did not get swayed by all the glam and gloss of video chatting portals and instead be vigilant while choosing the app. Ensure that you check all the boxes of the checklist mentioned above for an enjoyable and seamless video chatting experience.