Notes

All Zoomed Out?

CONVERSATION Article Content



The article was first published by The Conversation, an independent non-profit news source that provides news, analysis, and commentary from academics. Information on disclosures is available on the original website.



Are you all zoomed out? How to handle Zoom fatigue during the holiday season . Back to video



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



Article content Well it's official. The Christmas celebrations in North America and Western Europe will be quite different this year. Since the second wave of the pandemic hit, we've been told to use online tools to connect with our family and friends to share some holiday cheer. We may all be reluctant to attend festive gatherings in person to stop the spread of COVID-19 until a vaccine is available.



Article content Unfortunately, however, we've already been doing almost everything digitally from our couches for months, and most of us are getting really tired of the whole thing and with good reason.



So do we write off the holiday season altogether? Or do we seek new ways to make them memorable? My research into digital literacy has revealed ways we can connect this holiday season even if we are physically separated.



Video is the answer to everything



Zoom fever was all over the country during the first few months of this pandemic. People were glued to work and happy hour games, board game nights, and other events as well. Then many people felt like they had hit a brick wall. Zoom fatigue is real. Recent research suggests that the constant efforts to connect using video chat platforms (Zoom, Skype, Teams and others) might actually be wearing us down.



Article content While you consider how to spread holiday cheer, you want to find ways to step away from doing everything via video chat. Instead, take a look at the ways digital natives use digital tools for communication, and celebrate the season with a variety of platforms, as I'll explain below.



Different platforms for different social groups



My research has shown that teenagers are less likely to use social media platforms in a way that is based on their relationship with the platforms. Teenagers use Snapchat to keep contact with their parents and teachers, while using Facebook for school. They interact in massive multiplayer games.



This kind of interaction with technology that is digital makes sense for everyone. Zoom is a fantastic tool for working. However, Zoom users may also want to explore other ways to connect with their families and friends. You can make use of apps like Rave, Airtime, or Teleparty to share your favorite movies in synchronization with your friends. Or you could visit friends and family virtually in games like Animal Crossing, World of Warcraft, or Minecraft.



Article content Get digitally creative



There are many other ways you can connect with loved ones to spread holiday joy. The sky, and your imagination is the limit however here are some of my top suggestions:



Create and share a music playlist: Research on online music sharing has proven that sharing music is deeply connected to friendship. You can create a holiday music playlist and share it with friends on a streaming platform such as Spotify. This could bring you closer together as you play online games, purchase food or send holiday-themed memes to your WhatsApp group.



Text messages: A 2016 University of Minnesota study found that text messages are viewed as more personal and warm than email. You can keep in touch with your beloved ones during the holidays by sending them regular text messages. You can also send emojis or GIFs to your loved ones via text messages to enhance your emotional connection.



Article content: Host an online New Year's Eve party on YouTube. A Christmas ceilidh in Scotland is a Christmas tradition that sees families and friends gather to discuss stories, dance and sing songs. You can create an online ceilidh with the people you love using a website like YouTube. Each participant can upload a video of themselves singing songs or telling a story, singing a poem, or playing a musical instrument. Then, you can curate the videos into playlists that the entire group can enjoy while they eat their Christmas cookies. YouTube is a platform where communities form and videos are shared.



Turn on the radio, tune in, then go out.



The holidays can be stressful. You might be tempted to accept every invitation. However, it is important to make time to unplug from your electronic devices. AYEEEE Some universities suggest that doctoral students invest in digital detox times in order to combat Zoom fatigue.



Article content Sometimes, you'll need to utilize a videoconferencing platform to recreate an evening meal or cocktail party, so be sure you don't get tired of Zoom by balancing your video chatting with other methods to connect as described above.



When you get away from your computer, remember old-fashioned ways to keep in contact. You can send cards, phone or write to your loved ones. These moments are often the most meaningful because they are 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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