Zoom in on Quaranteens

Society's digital dependence became more prominent due to the pandemic. Classes were held online while parties and gatherings were celebrated through video calls. Everyone was looking for ways to contact the people around them, increasing the use of social media apps by over a hundred percent, with Zoom part of the top 5. Gen Zers, then, declared themselves the “Generation Zoom.”

Zoom's big boom

Businesses, institutions, and students needed a fill-in to the large void lurking in their management. They cannot use the pandemic as an excuse to take a break. That was when Zoom darted fast with their video conference software. Zoom welcomed about 1000 participants per video rendezvous, which is an extensive amount compared to others. With that, they have garnered more than 300% more users these past months.

However, the app's lack of security brought worldwide concern. People like the Cybersecurity specialist Jake Moore experienced what they call the “Zoom Bombing.” This happens when an ongoing meeting is interrupted by uninvited guests. In a conference spearheaded by Jessical Lessin, founder of The Information, someone disturbed their session with pornography.

Zoom bombing was not the only issue. This app gave an option of recording a session for a group's future reference. Little did these people know, they will not be the only spectators of these videos. Security researcher Patrick Jackson found 15,000 recorded videos saved in a drive that was not secured by a password.

Upon learning about the issue, the Zoom staff tried to add a password function. However, the damage had been done—a lot of users were traumatised. It also provides end-to-end encryption only to those who purchase it. These reasons inclined many to look for other alternatives.

Dating in Zoom U

Hearing the words “Zoom University,” people may think that it is Zoom's student version of their app, but in actuality, University of Southern California (USC) graduates Leor Massachi and Daniel Newman programmed this as a dating website for both college and high school students. The programmers set people up double dates through the matchmaking process.

It is divided into two pools, depending if one is over or under 18. About 48,000 students have already used this site. According to Daily Arts writer Grace Tucker, who interviewed the founders of Zoom Uni, it was designed for the “lonely, socially starved Gen Zers searching for a place to meet new people.” Unfortunately, it was a tinder version exclusive only to the US.

Zoom in to individual lives

People had placed an effort to alleviate the crisis. This was a time when people focused on honing their own skills, networking with new people, or simply mending relationships. Technology was once criticised as the reason for a divide, but now it is a hero that walked through walls and mailed out messages people can't say face to face.