Zoomed out: Most Americans are tired of chatting with people over video during COVID-19

Study Finds ^ | December 23, 2020 | Chris Melore

[CheshireTheCat]

Although technology is helping keep everyone connected while living in isolation, it seems most people are sick and tired of looking at their friends, family, and co-workers through a video screen. A new survey finds six in 10 Americans are currently “Zoomed out” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OnePoll survey of 2,000 respondents reveals 61 percent have experienced tech fatigue during the ongoing pandemic. Of that group, 69 percent say their burnout is specifically due to all the time they’re spending on video calls.

Commissioned by Vthrive The Vitamin Shoppe CBD, the survey delved into tech fatigue, which the researchers define as a feeling of exhaustion after using digital apps and tools. The poll also looked at how respondents are handling their technological discontent during 2020.

The average respondent first started to experience tech fatigue about 12 weeks into the pandemic. Of those experiencing tech fatigue, 52 percent say it’s been a consistent feeling. That’s perhaps not surprising considering how much time people have been spending on their devices since the start of COVID-19....

[CheshireTheCat]

Maybe after all this is all over, if it ever is, bowling leagues and square dancing will make a come back.

[politicianslie]

The ONLY people who are still paying attention to the mask and lockdown orders are idiots.

COVID-19 is very easily and effectively treated with almost 100% success.

Article includes OTC Preventative dosage AND what they are using for near 100% success

[mass55th]

I don’t use video to talk to anyone. I either call them on the phone, or email them.

[wildcard_redneck]

We had a “zoom Christmas” at my ex-wife’s house because my ex-sister-in-law wanted one. What a fiasco of tech glitches.

The biggest surprise was when my ex asked her sister's boyfriend who live in North L.A.”Where are the presents I sent you?” The dipshit said “They might be in the garage where I quarantine packages for nine days before opening them.” Boy was my ex pissed off. We then had to wait 20 minutes while Nancy McFraidy Pants went to the garage to dig for them. That couple has not been out of the house since April. They get away with it because he has a job in IT and is working remotely and, because they are not married, my ex's sister sponges off of California welfare.

[John Milner]

Thank God I’ve been able to avoid loading Zoom on my phone or computer. I did have to dial into a zoom meeting once using a local number for audio only.

Also still not doing Twitter. Facebook is once a week or ten days to see if there’s any news, but I never post anymore.

[Alberta's Child]

The average respondent first started to experience tech fatigue about 12 weeks into the pandemic.

I was sick of web conferencing about 12 minutes into my first “virtual” meeting.

[Vendome]

fornicating will definitely be a thing when this is over

[max americana]

Zoom is SOP here in Hollywood. There’s a few of us who just say “how about I just call you on the phone via speaker?” God knows I dont want to see the ugly mugs of people I secretly hate, when the phone does that perfectly as I only hear your stupid voice.

[Truthoverpower]

Screw this stupid virus

Screw lockdowns

Screw masks

Screw vaccines for this stupid bug

Screw talking on the phone or even video conferencing- it’s lame

[wally_bert]

MS Teams is our main tool and I don’t want to see most people. Voice is OK.

A few outside vendors and customers want zoom since they don’t use MS Teams.

[ETCM]

I hosted Christmas “in person” at my house, but “zoomed” with my inlaws, who are in their 90’s. For them, COVID isn’t “just the flu”. For some, video conferencing programs are a blessing. I’ll see them after they get vaccinated in Jan/Feb. And hopefully again many times after.

[Gene Eric]

Unfortunately, not always an option for business. But possible to connect without one’s camera enabled.

[Textide]

Mix of Zoom, Google Meets and Slack at my work at an aerospace company. Most of us get along just fine via chat, voice and screensharing. We in Engineering are usually meeting about code or some document, so cameras are not really needed, just share the screen and chime in.

It’s nice to be able to see others, but it’s nice not to have to think too much about appearance. In the end the work gets done either way.

[noiseman]

I think most people either have low speed, low quality internet connections, or they have no idea how to set up a network, especially wifi, for good performance. For example, I bet 90+% of folks out there just use the modem/router combo box provided by their ISP, not realizing what garbage those are, nor the fact that in most cases they’re not even capable of providing the speed that they are subscribing to.

Step one in subscribing to internet service should always be to refuse the ISP’s box and to buy your own separate modem and router. The performance difference is huge.

[T.B. Yoits]

It's not the medium of web conferencing, it's that web conferencing makes you realize how many of these people can't get their stuff organized before the meeting and they can't hold a conversation at all.

They were actors and actresses when they went into the office but now they're showing their truer selves and it's not pretty. I've seen more into some people's personal lives than I ever wanted to know.

[The Duke]

... and there’s always the joker engineer who threatens to stand up and reveal he’s wearing no pants. An excellent ice-breaker! :)

[maggief]

https://thefederalist.com/2020/06/25/until-zoom-breaks-with-communist-china-dont-use-it/

Until Zoom Breaks With Communist China, Don’t Use It

A number of red flags have emerged regarding Zoom’s security, but none of them are as threatening as Red China.

[max americana]

Never heard of it but will try it out..

[wally_bert]

Teams is something MS has gotten right.

All kinds of functionality. It took over from the abysmal Skype For Business and so-so Lync.

[AppyPappy]

I’m a programmer so I work from home. I really don’t Zoom with people outside of work. My liberal friends just ignore the social distancing thing and have get-togethers but they are far away. If I want to see someone, I just go to their house and stay 6 feet away from them.