A new study looked at how long spells of video-conferencing affect our health. A communications expert wrote about what he called "Zoom fatigue". He said it is not restricted to just Zoom. In the past year, most of us have spent lots of time video-conferencing. The coronavirus pandemic has meant tools like Zoom have been the only way we have seen loved ones. Many companies have relied heavily on Zoom for meetings, and teachers have used it for online classes.
There are many reasons why video-conferencing creates fatigue. It is not just tiredness and strained eyes. It also comes from "cognitive overload" and feeling pressure to always be online and available for family, friends, bosses or students. This can lead to burnout, stress and even severe depression. This anxiety can negatively affect self-confidence. Many faces staring at you in online meetings is like the stress of public speaking.