By Amy Maoz │Pocket│3 min

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We’ve spent over a year substituting video calls for IRL connection. What’s it doing to our brains?

In 2020, video calls were the solution to everyone’s would-be canceled plans. From work meetings to happy hours, conferences to weddings, Kindergarten to grad school, everybody Zoomed in. And those who didn’t were on Skype, FaceTime, or the like.

But after hours upon hours of approximating eye contact and “I think you’re on mute” snafus, scientists and academics began to warn that our brains might be suffering in new and distinct ways from the lack of face-to-face connection. Read on for a fascinating reading list of how video conferencing has contributed to burnout, fatigue, fight-or-flight responses, and an odd breed of self-loathing—plus, how to counter the negative effects.

Growing Up Online: If you know any college students with these concerns on their minds, be sure to point them toward the essay contest Pocket is hosting with HerCampus. We’re looking for a fresh generation of writers to share what it’s been like coming of age in a hyper-online, always-connected world. Or if you’re looking for a window into the mind of the students who’ve had to attend prom and college orientation on video chat, don’t miss the “Class of Zoom” feature from our colleagues at Firefox.

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‘Zoom Fatigue’ Is Taxing the Brain. Here’s Why That Happens.

Julia SklarNational Geographic

Video calls seemed an elegant solution to remote work, but they wear on the psyche in complicated ways.
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What Happens to Your Brain When You Look at Yourself on Zoom Too Much

Dara KatzPureWow

“With video, we must rely on our eye contact at all times. It takes much more emotional effort to stay engaged in video interactions.”
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Kids Are Growing Up Wired — and That’s Changing Their Brains

Alex OrlandoDiscover

Smartphones and other tech pose special challenges—and opportunities—for young brains.Save

Combating Zoom Overload with Reverse Meetings

Cal Newport

The attention economics of reverse meetings can be much more favorable than our current standard.Save

The Origins of Video-Chat Voice

Nate HopperThe New Yorker

We sound strange on Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime. Why?Save

Zoom and Gloom

Robert O’TooleAeon

Sitting in a videoconference is a uniformly crap experience. Instead of corroding our humanity, let’s design tools to enhance it.Save

Stanford Researchers Identify Four Causes for ‘Zoom Fatigue’ and Their Simple Fixes

Vignesh RamachandranStanford News

It’s not just Zoom. Popular video chat platforms have design flaws that exhaust the human mind and body. But there are easy ways to mitigate their effects.Save

Class of Zoom

Emily GillespieThe Firefox Frontier

The reality of virtual graduation, prom, and college orientation.
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Keyaira KellyInsider

The medium can be more taxing and intensifies everyday work communication.
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How to Combat Zoom Fatigue

Liz Fosslien and Mollie West DuffyHarvard Business Review

To make video calls less exhausting for yourself, try using a few research-based tips.
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Zoom Burnout Is Real

Angela LashbrookOneZero

And here’s what to do about it.