The continued disruption to the physical workplace by COVID-19 has caused the rise in work from home while using the popular teleconferencing app Zoom, with their user base jumping from 10 million users in December 2019 to more than 300 million users 5 months later.

With the continued usage of Zoom, it has also spawned a new term called "Zoom fatigue".

With no definite explanation, Zoom fatigue often refers to burnout or tiredness from over usage of teleconferencing apps, most particularly Zoom.

Therefore, scholars and researchers such as Professor Jeremy Bailenson, a professor from Stanford released a report of his theoretical argument on causes of Zoom fatigue. 

Causes of Zoom fatigue

1. Close Distance Eye Gaze 

One of the factors is the amount of time the viewer is seeing the front-on view of another person’s face.  

Most people, even experienced speakers, often face the intensity and pressure of being stared at for even just minutes if not hours. 

With Zoom's interface design that constantly beams faces to everyone, regardless of real or virtual faces, being stared at while speaking can cause physical arousal. 

2. Cognitive Load

To ensure the quality of communication between one another, non-verbal cues play a big role, accounting for 55% of the conversation.

While it is easy to convey it physically, it may prove otherwise virtually. For example: 

• Sending extra cues like centering oneself in the camera’s vision or nodding in an exaggerated way to signal agreement.
• Receiving cues like a quick glance where an individual darts their eyes to someone has a different social meaning compared to on Zoom where it could mean someone was distracted by a notification they received. 

3. Reduced Mobility 

While physical health is often related to this factor, reduced mobility could also hinder your critical thinking or brainstorming capabilities. 

In a face-to-face meeting, people would often:

• Doodle on their notepad
• Fidget with pens
• Stretch their bodies
• Walking to the water cooler to refill their drinks

Numerous studies have been conducted that these motions cause better performance in meetings.

One study showed that people who are walking, even in an indoor setting, come up with more creative ideas compared to those who don't.

For more in-depth information, do check out this report here.