Why the world is now ditching Zoom for real social interactions

Zoom usage has rapidly declined since the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. During Covid, downloads of virtual tools such as Zoom, House Party and Skype increased more than 100%[1], but now, the world is ditching screens in favour of real, in person interactions.

Lockdown now seems like a distant memory, but it wasn’t too long ago the world relied on virtual calls for quizzes, birthday parties, and the likes – which is why the nation now has Zoom fatigue!

Psychologists, computer scientists and neuroscientists say the distortions and delays in such video calls can make you feel isolated, anxious, and disconnected. Delays, freezing and blurring can affect social cues, meaning we concentrate harder on Zoom calls, leaving us feeling tired and drained.

As humans, a large part of communication relies on facial expressions and body language, which is almost impossible to read via video call. It can lead to lack of trust by not being able make eye contact and can diminish self-confidence too.

Many people also feel the need on video calls to fill gaps of silence and are scared of awkward pauses, which can de-rail the point of the call – particularly in a work setting.

There are so many more benefits to having in-person catch-ups, including benefits to our mental health:

• It boosts happiness and lifts our mood.
• It reduces stress levels.
• It can improve self-confidence.
• It can be seen as a form of self-therapy.

According to our research, 50% of people said meeting up with their friends make them happier overall, and one quarter of people said it boosts their mood. So how can we catch up with friends? Over a drink, of course!

In lockdown, everyone came together to have a glass of wine or a cocktail over Zoom, but is there anything better than being in the moment and tasting the same bottle together, or a jug of cocktail?

Here’s some inspiration for catching up over a drink with your friend!