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The pandemic has caused many people to change their Thanksgiving plans this year. The CDC has recommended avoiding any in-person gatherings and to stay away from traveling as much as possible.

The tradition for many families has been to get together with each other and friends to enjoy a great meal. In 2020, Thanksgiving is bound to be different, but during the pandemic, enjoying the holiday is certainly possible when you do it virtually. It’s quite simple, you just connect your computer or smartphone with a group of others to enjoy dinner and some fun afterward.

At this point, most people have used Zoom or at least know about the virtual platform. One of the issues with Zoom is a 40-minute time limit if you are using a free account. It can really make it difficult if you are trying to enjoy a virtual gathering on a budget.

The good news is, Zoom is dropping the 40-minute time limit for the holidays. According to their official Twitter account: “As a thank you to our customers, we will be lifting the 40-minute time limit for all meetings globally from midnight ET on Nov. 26 through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27 so your family gatherings don’t get cut short. #ZoomTogether.”

In other words, you can spend up to 30 hours hosting a virtual Thanksgiving on Zoom this year. Likely, we are not going to be spending 30 hours with our family and friends on Thanksgiving, but the free access does allow you to share some special times, even if you are doing it at a safe distance.

Make sure that you sign up for a free account and familiarize yourself with the Zoom meeting platform ahead of time. It will help to keep problems to a minimum and ensure that everyone in your circle of friends and family enjoys the day. Who knows, it might even start a new tradition!