Even before Omicron’s emergence, a spike in cases on the continent has caused countries like Austria and the Netherlands to impose partial lockdowns already. 

As we have seen again and again, the government’s primary response to COVID-19 is to physically separate us. And while caution may make sense for public health, it is devastating for our social lives. 

Confining social interactions to the digital sphere is not trivial. Loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, not to mention the ruinous mental health effects. Research by friendship app fethr found that 63% of people would prefer to meet people face to face rather than online.

For that reason, Brits are already seeking proactive tech solutions to their post-pandemic social problems. Friend-finding apps are booming because traditional avenues for meeting people cannot be relied upon to supply a good time. If bars are restricted and many are working from home, apps that can match you with interesting new people provide an attractive alternative. Research by fethr found that 62% would like to meet someone introduced to them via an app.

Apps are safer for people worried about COVID-19. Rather than having to talk to roomfuls of strangers before making a new connection, users are matched with a compatible person who is also open to making new friends. 

Julian Issa, CEO and Co-Founder of fethr, a friendship app for making more meaningful connections, said: "After spending so much of last year locked down, Londoners are hungry for the feeling of connection you get when you meet someone for the first time.

"If Omicron does lead to restrictions it’ll be a real step backwards. But this time around, apps like fethr will make it possible to keep social interaction up.

"With many still working and learning from home, we saw that people wanted new ways to meet people in-person. So we built an algorithm to match people according to their personality and friendship preferences."

Even before the pandemic, one survey suggested that 70% of millennials felt lonely. Busy work schedules, social media addiction and moving cities are just a few reasons why younger generations are struggling to meet new people. 

In this new post-pandemic world, anxiety and loneliness are even more acute. If Omicron causes another cycle of lockdowns, we’ll need to think about how we can stave off a health crisis of the socially isolated.