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All Zoomed Out?

CONVERSATION Article Content



This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and non-profit source of news, analysis, and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original website.



Are you all Zoomed out? Zoom fatigue during the Christmas season: How to manage it?



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Author: Jaigris Hodson, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Royal Roads University



Article content It's official. All across North America and most of Western Europe, the Christmas holidays will be completely different this year. Since the second wave of the pandemic hit and we've been instructed to use online tools to connect with loved ones to share some holiday joy. We're all likely to be reluctant to go to holiday gatherings in person in order to stop the spread of COVID-19, even before a vaccine is available.



Content of the article Unfortunately,, we've already been doing almost everything digitally from our couches for months and a lot of us are becoming exhausted of it all, with good reason.



Do we forget about the holidays? Or do we look for new ways to make things memorable? My research on digital literacy shows ways we can be connected this holiday season, even if we are physically separated.



Video is for everything



The first few months of the pandemic filled with Zoom fever. People were zooming work, happy hour, board game nights and other activities as well. Many felt as if they had hit an impervious wall. Zoom fatigue is real. Recent research suggests that we might be getting tired of trying to connect to video chat platforms like Zoom, Skype, Teams, and others.



Article content So while you think about ways to spread holiday cheer, you want to figure out ways to move away from everything that is done through video chat. Instead, take a look at the ways that digital natives utilize digital tools for communication, and enjoy the holiday season on various platforms, as I'll describe below.



Different platforms for different social groups



My research has shown that young people tend to segment their use of social media platforms according to their interactions on these platforms. Teenagers utilize Snapchat to stay contact with their family and teachers and use Facebook for school. They play massive multiplayer games.



This type of interaction with digital technology makes sense for all. If you use Zoom for work, you might consider exploring other technologies to connect with family and friends. for instance you could make use of an app such as Rave, Airtime or Teleparty to stream movies in synchronization with your friends. You could also visit family and friends virtually through games like Animal Crossing, World of Warcraft or Minecraft.



Article content Get digitally imaginative



There are numerous ways to connect with loved ones and spread holiday cheer. The sky, and your creativity, are the limit Here are some of my top suggestions:



Create and share a music playlist. hexnet.biz Research has revealed that music sharing is closely linked to friendship. You could curate your own holiday music playlist using streaming platforms like Spotify, and share it with friends this season of giving. This could bring you closer together while you play online games, order food or send holiday-themed memes to your WhatsApp group.



Text messages Text messages: A 2016 University of Minnesota study found that text messages are perceived as more warm and personal than emails. Stay in touch with your loved ones throughout the holidays by sending frequent text messages. Sending emojis and gifs in your text messages will enhance your emotional connection to your loved ones.



Article content Host a virtual new Year's celebration on YouTube A Christmas party is a Scottish holiday tradition in which families and friends get together and share songs, stories and dance. You can create an online ceilidh with the people you love by using a website like YouTube. Every participant can upload a video in which they sing, play an instrument or tell a tale. Then , you can organize the videos into a playlist that the entire group can enjoy while eating their Christmas cookies. In the end, research has shown that YouTube is place where communities are created as well as a place where videos are shared.



Turn on the radio, tune in, then get out



The holidays can be stressful and you will feel attracted by every virtual invitation, but you have to take some time unplugging from electronic devices. Some universities suggest that their doctoral students put in digital detox time in order to combat Zoom fatigue.



Article content Sometimes, you'll need videoconferencing platforms to recreate the atmosphere of a holiday dinner or cocktail party, so be sure you don't get tired of Zoom by balancing your video-based chat with other methods to connect that we've mentioned above.



Don't forget the old-fashioned methods to stay in touch even if you're not using your computer. Send cards, answer the phone, or mail gifts to your loved ones. These are moments that are often the most meaningful since they are so rare in our hyper-connected world.



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Jaigris Hodson is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Canada Research Chairs Program.



https://theconversation.com/all-zoomed-out-how-to-deal-with-zoom-fat https://theconversation.com/all-zoo


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