In the years 2020 and 2021, various organizations such as software company GitLab and City of Santa Fe have uploaded Zoom meeting videos on YouTube. Although these videos may have been intended for recording purposes, it has recently been discovered that some people play these recordings on their computer screens to make themselves appear busy.
In the comment sections of both the GitLab and City of Santa Fe clips, there are multiple comments stating that individuals use these video clips to make themselves look occupied, as a means to avoid being disturbed by others or simply as a time to be alone.
Some comments suggest that these videos are more productive to use than actual meetings or checking emails. Others mention encountering these videos and even resorting to the technique of pausing the video and responding verbally to create the illusion of active participation in the meeting.
The use of meeting recordings is not limited to just working-age individuals, as even students utilize them. In one comment by Patrick Eagan, a history professor at Thomas More College, he mentioned opening one of these videos and pretending to be studying, in order to prevent his parents from interrupting him for several hours.
Currently, the GitLab channel has over 11,000 videos and more than 28,000 subscribers. Topicspecific clips have amassed over 200 comments.
Overall, these examples demonstrate how individuals manipulate Zoom meeting recordings to create the perception of busyness.
TLDR: Organizations like GitLab and City of Santa Fe have uploaded Zoom meeting videos on YouTube, which some individuals play on their computer screens to appear busy. These recordings are used as a means to avoid interruptions or enjoy some solitude. Comments on these videos suggest that they are seen as more productive than actual meetings or checking emails. Even students use this trick to study undisturbed by their parents. With thousands of videos and numerous comments, it is clear that this practice is quite common.
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