In every economic crisis there are winners and losers. Without question, dining out, entertainment venues, and manufacturers have taken a huge hit. The question many are asking is, “Who are the winners?” Look no further than your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone for the answer.
Video conferencing is on the rise. Video communication apps saw a record growth in March. With so much of the global population now living under some kind of degree of lockdown, many organizations have had to shift employees to working-from-home. The result is the demand for video conferencing apps has surged in recent weeks, with mobile app downloads reaching 62 million during the week March 14-21 – the highest number ever seen.
Zoom was the undisputed winner growing from 10 million users a day in December to 300 million users a day in April of this year. Video apps are not just useful in conducting business. Churches are using them to conduct weddings, funeral homes have turned to them for memorial services, and families use them to celebrate significant events like birthdays and anniversaries.
Of course, along with the convenience comes certain risks. The FBI has warned the public of the potential for “Zoom-bombing.” Zoom-bombing is when unwanted guests intrude on video meetings for malicious purposes. Zoom-bombing has significantly increased during the pandemic. Zoom recommends that users refrain from sharing meeting links on social media or in public forums, avoiding the use of your personal meeting ID (PMI) to host public meetings, and familiarizing yourself with Zoom and its settings before using the platform so you understand how to protect your virtual space.
Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn
