When Your Kid Starts Picking Boogers Behind You, Turn Your Camera Off

Summary

The article provides guidelines for videoconferencing etiquette, focusing on background image selection, microphone use, camera awareness, and attire.

Abstract

The article begins by addressing the issue of children's behavior during video conferences, emphasizing the need for careful background selection or blurring. It then discusses the importance of choosing a suitable background image, avoiding distractions such as unicorns or kittens. The article also highlights the necessity of turning off the microphone when not speaking to prevent background noise, while remembering to turn it on before speaking. Additionally, it reminds readers to maintain professionalism while on camera, suggesting avoiding certain actions like smoking, sitting in front of a window, or wearing inappropriate attire.

Opinions

The author emphasizes the importance of avoiding distractions in the background during video conferences.
The article suggests that the choice of background image can influence others' perceptions of a person.
The author stresses the importance of turning off the microphone when not speaking, but also remembering to turn it on before speaking.
The article encourages maintaining professionalism on camera, suggesting avoiding actions like smoking or wearing inappropriate attire.
The author recommends wearing a shirt, and for men, also wearing pants.
The author provides a disclaimer that their opinions do not reflect those of their employer or any associated organizations.

And other bits of videoconferencing etiquette

There really is no way to say, during a video conference, “Um, your kid is now up to the second knuckle searching for something in their nose. Behind you.”

It’s a conundrum, as it’s truly impossible to say it quickly enough, and nearly impossible to say it at all. I would say to put it in direct chat and hope for the best, but the chance that you’d send that message to the whole group is far too dangerous.

And, along with that, there are certainly a few bits of etiquette that we could all learn.

Change your background. To avoid issues with your entire company seeing someone behind you who’s mining for gold up their nosey, blur your background or replace it with an image if the software allows. If it does not, then barricade the doors somehow. The children will probably survive.

If you can use one, be careful what image you use. Every time you speak, every person on the other end of that connection is looking more at the image than you, and judging you for it. Don’t put little unicorns and fluffy rainbows up behind your head if you want to be taken seriously. Don’t put a cute kitten behind you unless you want to hear a collective, “Awwww,” from the meeting participants. Speaking of which…

Turn off your microphone unless you’re speaking. No one wants to hear your spouse yelling at the dog or the children or conducting their own Zoom meeting in the next room over.

Remember to turn on your microphone before you start speaking. This is where things get tricky for the rest of us…You’ve paid attention to the meeting etiquette and turned your microphone off, but then it’s your turn to speak, you forget to turn it back on. And you’re the boss. Which one of the rest of us is going to let you know that your microphone is off and how long do we wait? The answer is, it doesn’t matter who says it, and as soon as we see lips moving and no sound coming out, we should pipe up. It often, however, takes at least 30 seconds, and as each second passes, it gets harder and harder for someone to say something.

Don’t forget you’re on camera. As cameras become more and more of our daily interaction method, we get more and more comfortable with them, and tend to forget the camera is there. A few reminders for life on camera:

— If you don’t want people to know you smoke, don’t light a cigarette on camera. And, by the way, during the good old days when we actually had meetings in person, every person that was ever within ten feet of you knows you smoke. Seriously. Everyone. We just don’t tell you.

— Don’t sit with a window behind you — the backlighting turns you into a silhouette and you just look like every villain that ever sat in shadow while laughing their evil laugh in a spy thriller.

— Try not to look like you’ve been dragged through a knothole backward. Brush your hair. It’s important to the rest of us.

— Don’t wear T-shirts with swear words on them. Just don’t.

— For women, it is not necessary to put on makeup. That camera is going to add ten pounds anyway, and because your laptop camera is below your face, we’re looking up at your third chin, not whether or not you wore blush or eyeshadow.

— For men, put on pants. Just in case you forget your drink in the kitchen and stand up to go get it, that’s why.

— For everyone, wear a shirt. Just do.

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the author. While she is employed by a nonprofit association, neither they nor the national organization which issues their charter endorse her articles. Nor does her employment by the organization or, by extension, the connection with the national association, imply or constitute either organization’s approval or endorsement of the opinions expressed herein.