A new study has confirmed what most of us already knew—80% of people in Zoom meetings are faking interest. Meanwhile, the other 20%? They’re too busy staring at themselves to notice anyone else. The findings come from the Institute for Virtual Human Behavior, revealing that virtual meetings have become a playground for fake engagement and a vanity contest.
Faking It: Zoom’s Favorite Pastime
The majority of participants admitted to zoning out during meetings, doing just enough to appear engaged. Common tactics include head nods, muttered agreements, and sneaky glances at social media on a second screen.
“I just stare at the screen and occasionally nod,” said one respondent. “Honestly, I’m thinking about what to make for dinner.”
Another confessed, “I pick one person to focus on, move my eyes around a bit, and it looks like I’m paying attention. It works every time.”
The Other 20%: Focused on Their Own Reflection
The rest of the participants weren’t even trying to fake interest—they were too preoccupied with their own video feed. From adjusting hair to perfecting lighting, they spent the entire meeting making sure they looked good on camera.
“I just can’t stop looking at myself,” one participant admitted. “My jawline looks amazing in the right light, so yeah, I’m going to enjoy it.”
Zoom Fatigue or Pretending Fatigue?
While Zoom fatigue has been a common complaint, the study found it’s not always the screen time that wears people out. Instead, it’s the energy spent pretending to care for hours on end.
“We thought people were tired from too many meetings,” the lead researcher explained. “But it turns out, they’re just tired from faking it.”
Social Media Reacts: “We Knew It!”
As the study made headlines, social media lit up. “Finally, someone says it out loud!” tweeted one user. “I’ve been faking it since day one.”
Others were more focused on the 20% who stare at themselves. “So people just spend meetings checking themselves out? No wonder nothing gets done!” commented another.
Memes quickly flooded timelines, featuring blank stares and the iconic “me pretending to listen in a Zoom meeting” theme. The verdict? Virtual meetings may not be as productive as they seem.
The New Normal: Zoning Out on Zoom
As Zoom meetings continue to dominate the remote work landscape, it’s clear that pretending to care has become an art form. Whether zoning out or admiring your own reflection, the real skill in virtual work seems to be not getting caught.
For those hoping to make their next meeting productive, researchers offered some humorous advice: “If your co-workers seem distracted, they probably are. Just throw in a few nods and keep it short.”
Key Takeaways
- A new study reveals that 80% of people are faking interest during Zoom meetings, while 20% are focused on their own appearance.
- Popular tricks for feigning interest include nodding, muttering agreement, and scrolling through social media on another device.
- Zoom fatigue may stem more from pretending to care than from the actual meetings.
