Notes

All Zoomed Out?

Content of the article CONVERSATION



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



Are you all zoomed out? Zoom fatigue during the holiday season: How do you combat it?



--



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



Article content It's official. The Christmas holidays in North America and Western Europe will be different this year. Since the second round of the pandemic struck and we've been instructed to utilize virtual tools to connect with our loved ones for some holiday cheer. In fact, we may all find ourselves declining to attend in-person holiday gatherings in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 prior the announcement of a vaccine.



Article content



Do we just forget about holidays? Or do we look for new ways to make it memorable? My research into digital literacy reveals ways that we can stay connected during the holiday season even if we are physically separated.



Video is for everything



The first few months of the pandemic were full of Zoom fever. People were also speeding to work, enjoying happy hour and board game nights along with other activities. Many felt like they had hit an impervious wall. Zoom fatigue is real. And recent research suggests that all the efforts to connect with video chat platforms (Zoom, Skype, Teams and others) might actually be wearing us down.



Article content So while you think about ways to spread joy during the holidays, you're hoping to figure out ways to move away from doing everything through video chat. Instead, take a look at the ways that digital natives utilize digital communication tools, and enjoy the holiday season on a variety of platforms, as I'll explain below.



Different platforms for different social groups



My research has shown that younger people aren't likely to use social media platforms in a manner that is based on their relationships with these platforms. For instance, teens use Facebook to stay in touch with their families and teachers, but they also use Snapchat with their friends. They socialize in massive multiplayer games.



This type of interaction using digital technology is beneficial for all. Zoom is an excellent tool for working. However, Zoom users may also be interested in exploring other methods to stay connected with their family and friends. You can use apps like Rave, Airtime, or Teleparty to share videos in synchronization with your friends. You could also visit friends and family virtually in games like Animal Crossing, World of Warcraft or Minecraft.



Article content Get digitally imaginative



There are many other ways you can connect with loved ones to spread some holiday cheer. The sky, and your imagination are your only limit Here are some of my favorites:



Share and curate your music playlist. Research has revealed that music sharing is closely related to friendship. You can curate a holiday music playlist on an online streaming platform such as Spotify, and share it with your friends this festive season. This could help you connect with your friends as you order food online, play games, and send holiday memes to your WhatsApp Group.



Text messages: A 2016 University of Minnesota study found that text messages are viewed as more warm and personal than emails. You can stay contact with your loved ones during the holidays by sending them regular text messages. You can also send emojis and gifs to your loved ones in your text messages to strengthen your emotional connection.



Article content: Host a virtual New Year's celebration on YouTube. A Christmas-themed ceilidh in Scotland is a Christmas tradition where families and friends gather to share stories, dance and sing songs. Minecraft servers YouTube lets you create a virtual ceilidh for the people you love. Every participant can upload a video of themselves singing a song or telling a story reciting a poem or playing a musical instrument. You can then curate the videos into playlists that your group can enjoy while they eat their Christmas cookies. YouTube is a place where communities are formed and videos are shared.



Tune in, turn on, then cop out



The holidays can be stressful. You may feel you are tempted to accept every invitation. However, you need to take some time to disconnect from your digital devices. For those who suffer from Zoom fatigue, some universities recommend that doctoral students incorporate digital detox time in their schedules.



Article content Sometimes, you'll want to use a videoconferencing platform to recreate the atmosphere of a holiday dinner or cocktail event, so ensure you combat Zoom fatigue by balancing your video-based chat with other methods to connect that we've mentioned above.



Don't forget the old-fashioned methods of staying in touch, even if you aren't using your computer. You can send cards, call or write your loved ones. These moments are often the most meaningful since they are extremely rare in our hyper-connected world.



-



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


Website: https://minecraft-servers.fun/