India, May 1 -- Who knew, when WhatsApp launched video-calling in 2016, that we'd end up calling a loved one, but not really chatting, just leaving the screen on for hours - often the whole evening - while we simply completed chores, got office work done, or just chilled with silent, distant company? 

Think of it as low-stakes socialising. No one wants the run-down of your day or what you're having for dinner. No one wants you to look at the screen too often either. It's just being there for someone you care about, another way to tackle urban loneliness with tech.

Dial it down

Everyone's playing with the idea differently. Bhavya Gehlot, 26, a researcher in the US, met marketing executive Jaay Rathod, 28, at the Coldplay concert i...