Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3082202/remain-alert-keep-zoom-fatigue-bay
Comment/ Opinion

Remain alert to keep ‘Zoom fatigue’ at bay

  • Moderation is essential when screens previously used socially are now becoming such a big part of our working day along with an array of online communication apps
Zoom use has grown exponentially since the coronavirus pandemic began. Photo: Handout

When home becomes the workplace, when screens we use to chat with friends and family are also platforms for meetings and schooling, our way of life may never be the same again. This is what critics are saying after the coronavirus pandemic redefined working, learning and socialising in a matter of months. Until the onslaught of Covid-19, not many were aware of Zoom and other online communication applications, let alone tried them. But with user numbers ballooning to 200 million following lockdowns across the globe, there are not only threats to cybersecurity, but also public health.

“Zoom fatigue” has become the buzzword as more users complain about their work and social spheres being blurred by overuse of the popular app and others, such as Google Meet, Skype Meet Now or FaceTime. Far from being forced to adopt a hermit lifestyle, many find themselves even busier as face-to-face contact is replaced by virtual communication. The apps enable one to attend business conferences, join online classes and chat with a group of friends – all from the sofa or in bed. But the convenience also means the work day may become longer and irregular, upsetting the conventional concept of work-life balance.

Notwithstanding limited research, experts have offered a wealth of theories and explanations on the emerging problem. Unlike at work or in class, where there is room for the mind to wander, a video chat means one has to stay focused. Seeing others on screen also makes one more sensitive to their own appearance and behaviour. Even without a protective surgical mask, there is the so-called social masking whenever one goes online. Adding to the confusion and anxiety, according to psychologists, are a disparity between virtual connection and physical separation, and the disassociation of one’s roles and identities from the workplace and home.

Until an end to the global outbreak is here, fatigue arising from coping with the lockdown and social distancing may prevail together with the complexities that come with working from home and on Zoom. As with other electronic gadgets and social media platforms, there are advantages as well as drawbacks. Moderation is the key.

Help us understand what you are interested in so that we can improve SCMP and provide a better experience for you. We would like to invite you to take this five-minute survey on how you engage with SCMP and the news.