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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Digital communication makes it easier to stay in touch, but it does not make every kind of interaction interchangeable. Studies conducted during COVID-19 restrictions found that face-to-face contact was associated with well-being and, in two studies, outperformed the virtual formats examined. Those findings do not mean messaging is harmful or that everyone needs to meet in person on a set schedule. They point to a more practical conclusion: digital contact can sustain connection, while being together physically may add something different when meeting is possible and welcome.
What pandemic-era studies found about in-person and digital contact
The clearest comparisons come from an unusual period: COVID-19 restrictions disrupted ordinary socializing, and researchers examined how different forms of contact related to people’s well-being. These studies offer useful evidence, but they describe associations in pandemic-era settings—not universal rules or guarantees about what will improve any one person’s health.
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A cross-national survey of 6,436 people
A survey by Martha Newson and colleagues included 6,436 participants across countries during the pandemic. The researchers found that computer-mediated communication was more common than face-to-face contact. Face-to-face contact was positively associated with well-being, while use of messaging apps had a negative association. Household perceived vulnerability moderated the positive association with face-to-face contact. Because this was an observational survey conducted under restrictions, it cannot show that meeting in person alone caused better well-being, or that messaging harms people generally. The result also should not be extended to every digital format or ordinary post-pandemic life. Read the study.
Two studies comparing interaction formats
In a 2024 paper, Nathan Liang and colleagues reported two studies: a longitudinal study of 996 participants, with three waves from May 2020 to 2021, and an experience-sampling study of 249 participants, surveyed three times daily for two weeks. Across their studies, voice calls, group calls, and online messaging were associated with increased connection and positive affect. Face-to-face interaction’s benefits consistently exceeded those of the virtual formats tested. The authors summarize their finding this way: “Face-to-face interactions outperform all virtual ones in improving well-being.” That statement applies to the interaction types and studies they examined during the pandemic; it is not a claim that virtual contact has no value or that the same result holds for every person and situation. Read the study.
#1 Best Overall
- GAME OF SWEET REVENGE: Enjoy classic Sorry! gameplay with this Sorry! board game for kids. It's an edge-of-your-seat race to home, so hurry up and get there first
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Digital contact still has a real role
Calls and messages let people maintain relationships across distance, limited time, disability, safety concerns, or other barriers to meeting. In the Liang studies, voice calls, group calls, and messaging were each associated with positive affect and connection, even though face-to-face interaction showed greater benefits in those comparisons.
That distinction matters: “not identical” does not mean “useless.” A message can make it possible to check in; a voice or group call can support a more immediate exchange; an in-person meeting can provide a shared physical setting. Which format is useful depends on access, preference, safety, and what the people involved want from the interaction. The studies do not establish a required amount of in-person contact.
Rank #2
- UNO card game provides classic play, where players match colors or numbers in a race to get rid of all their cards!
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- When down to one card, players don't want to forget to yell 'UNO!' Keep score and the first player or team to 500 wins!
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Why social connection and physical presence matter
Connection is linked to broader health outcomes
A 2021 BMJ Open umbrella review brought together 25 meta-analyses—10 focused on physical health and 15 on mental health—and found social disconnection associated with a range of adverse outcomes. The underlying literature is varied, so this is broad context for the importance of connection, not proof that a particular outing prevents illness or predicts an individual’s health. Read the review.
Physical experience includes sensory cues
Being in the same place can involve sensory dimensions that a screen or message may not reproduce in the same way. Touch is one example, but it should not be treated as a synonym for socializing. A 2024 systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis included 137 studies in its meta-analysis, 75 additional studies in its systematic review, and 12,966 individuals in total. It reported benefits of touch interventions for selected outcomes, including reduced pain and anxiety in adults. Those findings concern touch interventions; they do not establish that all face-to-face contact has the same effects. Read the review.
Rank #3
- EXPLORE THE ISLAND OF CATAN: Settle the uninhabited island of Catan by gathering resources, building infrastructure, and nurturing trade relationships.
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Making room for in-person experiences without dismissing digital life
A useful approach is to choose the kind of contact that fits the moment, rather than treating offline and online interaction as rivals. When an in-person experience is feasible and desired, it may add a kind of shared presence that digital contact does not fully replicate. When it is difficult or unwanted, calls and messages can still help people stay connected.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- CLASSIC CROSSWORD GAME: Get family and friends together for a fun game night with the Scrabble board game! Put letters together, build words, and earn the most points to win
- WOODEN TILES AND RACKS: This edition of the Scrabble game features 100 wooden letter tiles and wooden tile racks. The textured gameboard helps tiles stay on the board
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Rank #4
- CLASSIC BEGINNER GAME: Do you remember playing Candy Land when you were a kid. Introduce new generations to this sweet kids' board game
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- Use messaging for a quick check-in or to keep a relationship active across distance.
- Consider a voice or group call when conversation and a more immediate exchange would help.
- Choose an in-person meeting when the people involved want to share a place or activity and can do so safely and accessibly.
- Respect constraints and preferences; the available studies do not prescribe a universal frequency for meeting face to face.
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