Axios PM: Why Zoom fatigue hits so hard

Plus: Sec. Pete meets D.C. Bike Twitter | Friday, February 26, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Facebook   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Feb 26, 2021 Good afternoon: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 336 words, a 1.5-minute read. ⚡️The U.S. released its report finding Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation to "capture or kill" journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Go deeper.     1 big thing: Why Zoom fatigue hits so hard Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   "Nonverbal overload" may be the driving force behind Zoom fatigue, Axios @Work editor Erica Pandey reports. That's the energy expended from sitting in one spot and making prolonged eye contact, Stanford's Jeremy N. Bailenson writes in a new paper. The big picture: Zoom exploded from 10 million users in December 2019 to 300 million during the pandemic. You can make those video calls better. During in-person meetings, people are taking notes or glancing down or taking a second to gaze out the window. And they're not getting that close to one another. Extended face-to-face interaction is usually something we reserve for close friends and family, but Zoom makes us do that with everyone, every day, notes Bailenson. On top of that, having back-to-back Zoom calls is like looking in a mirror all day, Bailenson writes. People are spending time and energy critiquing their appearances. The bottom line: Don't rule out good old phone calls.     2. Netflix's diversity stats Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page in "Bridgerton." Photo: Liam Daniel/Netflix via AP Netflix achieved roughly gender parity among lead characters in both film and TV in 2018 and 2019, AP reports. In Netflix films and series, 31.9% of leads were from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Netflix films were more likely to have women directing, writing or producing than the top-grossing movies of 2018 and 2019. Between the lines: Not all of the findings were positive. About 64% of speaking characters in Netflix movies were male. Only 16.9% of film directors were from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups. Among series creators, only 12.2% were from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.     A message from Facebook It's time to update internet regulations     The internet has changed a lot in 25 years. But the last time comprehensive internet regulations were passed was in 1996. We support updated internet regulations to set clear guidelines for addressing today's toughest challenges. Learn More     3. Earmarks come back Steam rises from a vent outside the Capitol today. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters   The House plans to restore a limited version of earmarks — the prized, oft-criticized tool that lets leaders direct spending to specific projects, often as a favor to a lawmaker, Axios' Kadia Goba reports. House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro said in a briefing for the Democratic caucus that the amount will be limited to 1% of discretionary spending. There'll be a cap on the number of requests per member, and a requirement for evidence the member won't financially benefit. Keep reading.     4. 1 smile to go: Sec. Pete meets Bike Twitter Screenshot: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg/Twitter Go deeper: A sampling from Bike Twitter's messages for Pete (DCist)     A message from Facebook Internet regulations need an update     It's been 25 years since comprehensive internet regulations were passed. But a lot has changed since 1996. We support updated regulations to set clear guidelines for protecting people's privacy, enabling safe and easy data portability between platforms and more. Learn More     Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: