Zoom-Is it the best meeting app?

Check back here to read and hear the other side of the argument.

If you agree that Zoom is the best meeting app let us know at bambooms@ismanila.org

Matej P.

Zoom is a widely popular meeting app that has become massively popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many schools, businesses, companies, and friends are using zoom as a way to communicate. This begs the question, is zoom really the best way to connect with others?

Zoom has had security issues regarding the app itself. One of the biggest issues is zoom-bombing. Zoom-bombing is accessing someone else's video conference that they were not invited to. Every call has an ID number between 9 to 11 digits which is the meeting code, which can then be used to gain access. Researchers have found that the IDs of meetings can easily be guessed and accessed. 

Another example of zoom not being trusted is that Zoom claims that meetings are secure with end-to-end encryption, but it does not use end-to-end encryption. The company also uses the data for ad targeting.

Zoom also has an issue with pricing. For a business or company, it is $350 a year compared to other video conferencing apps such as Skype, Google Meets, and Microsoft Team which are far cheaper or free. “My experience on Zoom has been mostly frustrating,” said Xandra Ewing, an OCC psychology major.

Then there is discord. Discord is intended to be used by gaming communities to keep in contact with secure servers. It's free to use and compatible with Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux and web browsers. In Discord, you can create a server with all your friends, teachers, family,  and create chat channels that can be limited to a certain member/s. Discord is a very user-friendly app.

Another alternative is Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams with the full plan, can also let you access all other Microsoft apps such as Microsoft word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other software. The camera and screen sharing options are very good and they have great quality and low lag. It is an overall good software for businesses and companies since it also includes an email and chat system. 

Overall, Discord and Microsoft teams are good video conferencing apps that deserve more attention than they have right now.