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Why Zoom is ruining your self-esteem
The pandemic is wrecking more than just our social lives
The effects of the global coronavirus pandemic on our mental health have been well documented. Human beings are social animals. We miss seeing our families and friends, even our colleagues. However, there’s something else I’ve been missing lately — attending a meeting where I haven’t had to stare at my own face for an hour.
Research shows I’m far from alone in feeling this way.
Influencers were quick to sense a new vulnerability to exploit; YouTube was awash with Zoom make-up tutorials within weeks of lockdown being announced. Searches for selfie ring lights, a common tool to improve your appearance in photos and video, tripled between December 2019 and May 2020:
If all of that is not proof enough that there’s a crisis of self-confidence going on, just search “Zoom ruining my self esteem”. It’s eye-opening.
So, why is this happening? Put simply, familiarity breeds contempt. According to educational website Skillscouter, the average video conference call is between 31 and 60 minutes long. That’s a lot longer than you usually spend staring at your own…
