Make friends around the world with SLOWLY

Make friends around the world with SLOWLY

If you miss the days when the only way to get in touch with a long-distance friend was by sending them a heartfelt and personal letter, you're in luck - SLOWLY is here to bring all the nostalgia back into communication.

SLOWLY is a new pen pal app that allows users to write and receive letters on their smart devices from anywhere in the world. Created by Why Interactive in Hong Kong, their goal was to provide a platform to connect users who want to share their passion at a slower pace than instant messaging, one letter at a time.

The app is very simple to use. Once you've downloaded it, all you need to do to get started is set yourself up with a nickname and select one of their cute avatars. You can then choose from a varied range of hobbies and interests - this will help when it comes to matching you with pen pals, as it makes it easier for the app to ensure you're set up with likeminded people.

On your Pen Friends page, there's a list of symbols that indicate your communication status with each friend. The new symbol informs you that you have received a new, unread letter from one of your pen pals. A yellow dot reminds you that your pen friend is waiting for a reply. A return arrow with a date indicates that you've replied to a letter and the date you did so.

The check marks in the top left corner of your page are there to highlight the status of your sent letters. The airplane symbol means your letter is on the way, a single tick means your letter has been delivered, and a double tick assures you that your letter has been read.

One cute feature of SLOWLY is that the further away your pen pal lives, the longer it will take for you both to receive the letters you send back and forth - just like a real letter. You can also share a set number of photos per day with pen pals who you've allocated access, making it easy to let them know about a cute dog you've seen that day, or a beautiful landmark in your city.

Communicating through the app enables you to collect stamps, which are divided into three sections. Location-based stamps are earned according to your geo-location, so make sure to log into SLOWLY whilst you're on your travels. Achievement stamps are hidden awards that are revealed when you achieve certain milestones. The more letters you write, the higher your chance of unlocking a secret stamp. Limited Edition stamps are available for a certain amount of time, such as during popular festivals or when SLOWLY launches a new feature. To unlock these stamps, simply make sure to open the app within the timeframe specified so that you don't miss out.

You can download SLOWLY on the App Store and the Play Store. Happy writing!