Even as more people are logging onto popular video chat platforms to connect with colleagues, family and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stanford researchers have a warning: those video calls are likely tiring you out.
Professor Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL), examined the psychological consequences of spending hours per day on these platforms. In the first peer-reviewed article that systematically deconstructs Zoom fatigue from a psychological perspective, published in Technology, Mind and Behavior, Bailenson identified four consequences of prolonged video chats that contribute to "Zoom fatigue."
Bailenson stressed that his goal is not to vilify any particular videoconferencing platform, but to highlight how current implementations exhaust users and suggest interface changes. He emphasizes: "just because you can use video doesn't mean you have to."
Four reasons why
1) Excessive amounts of close-up eye contact is highly intense
On video chats, everyone looks at everyone constantly. Unlike in-person meetings where people look at speakers, take notes, or look elsewhere, video platforms create unnatural eye contact intensity. Additionally, faces often appear too large on screens, simulating intimate personal space that triggers stress responses similar to mating or conflict situations.
Solution: Take Zoom out of full-screen mode, reduce the window size, and use an external keyboard to increase personal space distance.
2) Seeing yourself during video chats constantly in real-time is fatiguing
Most platforms show a self-view square during chats. Studies show that seeing your reflection increases self-criticism and creates negative emotional consequences. Experiencing this for many hours daily is taxing and stressful.
Solution: Use the "hide self-view" button by right-clicking your photo once your face is properly framed.
3) Video chats dramatically reduce our usual mobility
Fixed camera fields of view restrict movement, which is unnatural. Research shows that movement improves cognitive performance.
Solution: Position external cameras farther away to allow pacing and doodling. Periodically turn video off during meetings to provide nonverbal rest.
4) The cognitive load is much higher in video chats
Nonverbal communication requires conscious effort on video platforms. Users must ensure proper framing, use exaggerated gestures, and interpret ambiguous signals differently than in-person interactions.
Solution: Take "audio only" breaks during long meetings, turning your body away from the screen for a few minutes to reduce nonverbal processing demands.
ZEF Scale
Researchers developed the Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue Scale (ZEF), a 15-item questionnaire tested across five studies with over 500 participants. It measures general fatigue, physical fatigue, social fatigue, emotional fatigue, and motivational fatigue through questions about exhaustion levels, eye irritation, social avoidance, emotional drainage, and post-meeting tiredness.
Results from this scale can help technology designers reduce stressors and help organizations develop optimal videoconferencing practices for different settings and meeting types.