It’s very common for families to have either immediate or extended family members who live far away from each other. But while this is a fact of life, it doesn’t make it any easier to not be able to see or speak to someone that you care about. Luckily, modern technology has made it easier than ever for loved ones the world over to keep in touch and reconnect on a daily or even hourly basis. So whether you’re far away from family due to divorce or if you suddenly find yourself living across the country from those you care about, here are three ways you can use technology to make it easier to keep in touch with loved ones you don’t live with.

Create Family Social Media Accounts

While most people think of using social media as a way to follow people they’re interested in or check up on celebrities or brands they love, you can also create a much smaller network that only includes those whom you love but don’t get to see often. Especially if there are young kids involved, Eleanor Ross, a contributor to The Telegraph, recommends creating private social media accounts where you can post pictures or videos that can only be seen by those friends who have been accepted by you. By doing this, you’ll ensure that those you love can keep up with what’s going on in your life without opening yourself or your kids up to being seen by anyone on that social media platform.

Chat Through Video Calling

While seeing static pictures or watching previously recorded videos can help you feel closer and more involved in the lives of your loved ones, nothing beat being able to see their faces and talk to them as if they were right beside you. According to Oliva Christine Perez, a contributor to GoOverseas.com, you can use apps like Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, and more to video chat with your loved ones regardless of where in the world they are. Just so long as you and your friend or family member have downloaded the same software, you should be able to talk to each other no matter where you find yourselves.

Download Apps That Are Easy For Everyone To Use

Just a few years ago, it was much harder to keep in touch with your loved ones because of varying cell phone carriers, Internet packages, and more. But now that so much of our communication can take place via apps and their software, it’s so much easier to contact people all over the globe. According to Kimberly Wang, a contributor to Brit and Co., some of the best apps to use for communicating with others include WhatsApp, Skype, and GroupMe. These apps allow you to send messages, pictures, videos and more to anyone you’re linked to anywhere in the world.

If you’re wanting to find some new and simple ways to keep in touch with the people you love, consider updating some of your own technology and software to make this happen.