Abstract
Though it has been some time since the outbreak of the novel COVID-19
disease, it still poses a threat to many people worldwide. Connections have been lost
due to the practice of social distancing, both on a personal and a societal level. Due to
the global prohibitions on large-scale face-to-face meetings and activities, social media
platforms have emerged as a lifesaver for humanity. The role of social media platforms
has grown increasingly important for people to express themselves and communicate
with others. Besides, the world has also witnessed large-scale events being organized
on social media platforms, making connections and interactions with friends, family,
and the community via social media networks, as well as the transformation of
educational activities into digital activities. Thus, it is pertinent to comprehend the role
of social media platforms in maintaining social distancing and online connections
during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aims to generate a discussion on the
importance and role of social media platforms to maintain social distancing among
individuals. It typically emphasizes three main themes: (1) the importance of social
media platforms in establishing as well as improving social distancing during the
COVID-19 crisis, (2) the role of social media platforms in maintaining social
connections and interactions among individuals during the pandemic, and (3) the
impact of Coronavirus towards the use of social media.
Keywords: Communication, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Disease, Facebook, Infection, Instagram, lockdown, Medical information, Pandemic, Physical distance, Role, Social distancing, Social isolation, Platforms, Social media, Virtual gathering, Virus, WhatsApp, YouTube.