The pros and cons of video calling

In this stay at home period, the use of video calling (Skype, Zoom, Facetime etc.) has increased dramatically. Suddenly, we can't see friends and family in person, so video calling it is. 

Video calling has some great benefits. It's a fantastic way to stay connected with people you can't see in person. It feels (sort of) like the person is there in the room with you, which is pretty magical when you are physically very far apart. You also get a glimpse into the other person's life, whether it's getting a virtual apartment tour or observing their cat causing mischief in the background. Video calls can be hilariously ridiculous, especially when the Facetime filters come out to play. And the absolute best thing about video calling is that you can hang out with your friends in your pyjamas.  

But there are some downsides to communicating in this way. I don't think there's ever been a video call in the history of video calls with no technical issues. Strange delays, background noise, people talking whilst on mute. The list goes on. These difficulties make it really hard to properly communicate. Sometimes, when I'm talking to a friend on a video call, I can clearly feel the distance between us. There are so many things that I want to say, but it just doesn't seem right to have a proper conversation through a computer screen.

For now, it's not as though we have much choice. And for people who are far away from family, or confined to their home for health reasons, video calling has become a social lifeline over recent years. Maybe this will become the new normal. Once we're allowed to stop physical distancing, maybe talking face-to-face will seem like the strange option.