Top 15 Cons or Disadvantages of Using Zoom Meetings

In a time defined by remote work and virtual collaboration, the demand for a unified platform to enhance connectivity, communication, and teamwork is essential. Zoom streamlines workflows, simplifies tool usage, and boosts productivity and efficiency. By serving as a centralized hub for communication and collaboration, it empowers teams to work together seamlessly and promotes innovation across industries.

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What is Zoom Meetings?

Zoom is a comprehensive platform that seamlessly connects people and fosters collaboration. With a strong emphasis on transforming workspaces and engaging diverse audiences, Zoom is an intuitive, scalable, and secure solution for large enterprises, small businesses, and individuals. By pushing the boundaries of innovation and prioritizing video communication, Zoom offers a frictionless experience to its users.

15 Cons and Disadvantages of Zoom Meetings

While Zoom has gained significant popularity, it is important to acknowledge the drawbacks associated with the platform. In this section, we will delve into the cons of using Zoom Meetings and provide insights for users to consider before adopting it.

1. Frustrations with Zoom Support and Additional Costs

After purchasing and installing the Office 365 plan on a MAC, the Zoom app in Outlook and Calendar unexpectedly disappeared after months of use. Attempts to seek immediate support through phone calls led to the realization that the only option available was to submit an email and wait 24 to 48 hours for a response. This proved unhelpful when facing a scheduled meeting in just 2 hours. Discovering that live support required an additional payment of $200 per month or $2400 per year felt unjustifiable for fixing software that had already been paid for. The experience with the company was deemed horrible, worsened by spending an hour on hold with sales to obtain this information.

2. Not the ideal alternative for your virtual meetings

While Zoom Meeting offers numerous advantages, it’s essential to consider the drawbacks. Stable bandwidth is crucial for practical platform usage, posing challenges for users with slow connections. Prolonged videoconferencing can lead to fatigue and reduced productivity. Advanced features and more significant participant numbers require a paid subscription, challenging smaller organizations. The free version has limitations on meeting duration and participant count. However, with proper planning and management, these issues can be mitigated.

3. Security Concerns, Limitations, and Technical Challenges

Zoom has faced scrutiny for security and privacy issues, including the risk of unauthorized access through “Zoombombing” tactics. Inadequate network capacity can degrade Zoom recording quality. The free version imposes time limits on group meetings. Hosts may lack complete control over participants, such as the inability to remove someone permanently or mute their microphone. Integration with popular productivity apps like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook is not yet available. Users may encounter technical difficulties, such as poor video or audio quality and difficulties joining or setting up meetings. Background noise can also be a problem for participants based on location or device. In comparison to other video conferencing tools, Zoom may lack certain features.

4. Potential Camera and Screen Sharing Issues for Mac Users

Mac users may experience intermittent issues while using Zoom, including camera malfunctions and screen-sharing functionalities not performing as intended. These occasional problems can disrupt the smooth functioning of video conferences and collaborative sessions. Mac users should stay updated with the latest Zoom version and ensure their devices meet the system requirements for optimal performance. Additionally, troubleshooting steps such as restarting the application or the device can sometimes resolve these technical hurdles.

5. Distractions, Technical Issues, and Privacy Concerns

Certain aspects of Zoom Meetings proved to be less favorable for me. Zoom exhaustion became a real struggle, making it challenging to maintain focus after prolonged screen time. Working from home increases the likelihood of distractions from the TV, children, or pets. Occasional technical difficulties arose, leading to choppy video or audio and intermittent conference connection issues. Moreover, privacy concerns surfaced when it was discovered that Zoom had stored user data, including meeting recordings, on Chinese servers in 2020.

6. Enhancing Zoom User Experience

I believe that if Zoom were to provide a comprehensive handbook or user guide to each customer, it would elevate their platform above the competition. While the software is generally user-friendly, there were instances where I had to search online to understand specific features. While I understand the security benefits, making password protection optional rather than default would prevent confusion for participants who already face multiple access numbers. Additionally, the initial invitation to Zoom meetings can be overwhelming, with a surplus of information, multiple phone numbers for different time zones, and two other links to decipher. With more explicit instructions and a more streamlined approach, Zoom could achieve perfection, as I had to rely on trial and error before mastering the process consistently.

7. Muting Control and Screen Sharing Limitations

There are specific challenges associated with using Zoom for e-learning. For instance, the leader can mute all participants, but participants can easily unmute themselves, which can disrupt the lesson if a student interrupts. Additionally, while screen sharing is possible, every participant can share their screen. This can lead to chaos and system glitches if multiple individuals attempt to share their screens simultaneously.

8. Starting Meetings and Workaround Solutions

Zoom can exhibit some quirks when initiating calls, particularly in my experience. Whenever I attempt to start a scheduled Zoom meeting through the app, I consistently end up in a different room than my invitees. As a result, I resort to using the same link provided to my invitees, which means our meetings usually lack a designated host. Although not ideal, this workaround has proven effective without any apparent drawbacks. So, despite the unconventional approach, I find it a viable solution.

9. Zoom’s Video Quality and Mic Options

Zoom’s video quality appears lower when compared to other software using the same camera and settings. While joining a new meeting, I can enable or disable my camera, but I lack the same option for my microphone. This poses a challenge as I may want my microphone on during meetings with classmates and coworkers but prefer it off when joining a class to avoid disturbances. As the meeting host, I either have to wait for each participant to join and grant them access individually or manually disable the waiting room feature. Additionally, when Zoom is minimized and another program is in focus, there is no notification—neither audible nor visual—to alert me when someone attempts to join the meeting. Consequently, I need to check until all participants have joined frequently.

10. Enhancing Security, Privacy, and Features in Zoom

While Zoom’s security and privacy could be improved, administrators can take measures to maximize these aspects during calls. The chat feature could benefit from increased dynamics, as private messages between callers are not easily noticeable to recipients. Implementing notifications for private messages would be highly appropriate. Additionally, there is a lack of moderator control if inappropriate comments are made in the chat. The 40-minute time limit for free accounts can be inconvenient, although it serves a purpose. Zoom’s subscription price point may be relatively high but offers a top-of-the-line software experience.

11. Enhancing Zoom’s Mute Controls and Mobile Interface

Introducing additional mute controls would be highly beneficial, enabling hosts to quickly mute all participants if desired, eliminating the need for additional moderators in larger calls. However, the phone interface of Zoom leaves much to be desired. Navigating between screens to access features can be confusing, leading to frustration or embarrassment for clients joining via mobile devices due to technical hiccups. Moreover, the decision to restrict the availability of dial-in numbers to paid plans was a misstep. Until the Zoom app becomes more accessible and user-friendly, dialing in remains the most straightforward way for mobile users to join a Zoom meeting.

12. Enhancing Zoom’s Chat Feature and Expanding Additional Offerings

The chat feature in Zoom has room for improvement. It cannot transfer files or react to messages, and it can become overwhelming when numerous participants heavily use the chat. However, considering its video communication purpose, the chat adequately serves its primary function. While some features, such as a broader range of virtual backgrounds, could be expanded, they are not essential. Zoom excels in its core strength of delivering excellent video and audio performance, even in large-scale calls with hundreds of participants.

13. Technical Limitations in Zoom’s Linux Desktop Application

The Linux desktop application of Zoom encounters technical issues, particularly in certain hardware conditions. The annotation tool, in particular, is rendered useless due to real-time screen update problems and the inability to display transparent background drawings for annotating while keeping the desktop visible. Moving Zoom windows also results in noticeable glitches, such as video window duplication during recording, degrading the quality of recordings. This makes it impractical to move windows while recording; certain features must be disregarded. Additionally, the toolbar has display issues when set at the bottom of the screen, extending beyond the screen’s bottom and becoming unreachable. Resizing the toolbar is impossible and occupies excessive space on smaller monitors (13 inches below). Similarly, resizing the main window during a meeting can make buttons disappear and become unusable, creating difficulties in recording or ending the session.

14. Improving Screen Sharing Functionality

While Zoom offers the ability to share screens with other participants, there are limitations to this feature that could benefit from improvement. Screen sharing in Zoom is limited to a single item, such as an open file, document, or website. If the presenter switches to a different item on their computer, the shared screen does not update for others. Only the selected initial file/website/document remains visible to participants. While this setup can be convenient for specific scenarios, it becomes cumbersome when multiple items need to be shared during a meeting. Presenters must close the screen share and reopen it each time they want to display a different item. To enhance user experience, it would be beneficial to have an option for the screen share to update based on what the presenter is currently viewing, allowing seamless transitions between shared content without disruptions.

15. Pricing, Comment Control, and Video Quality

While Zoom’s pricing may appear steep, it depends on individual requirements. However, there are notable drawbacks to consider. Firstly, there is no control over comments, as inappropriate comments cannot be deleted. Secondly, the video quality is limited to 720p, whereas other providers offer higher resolutions, such as 1080p and above. Additionally, the app download process can cause inconvenience if participants forget to download the app before a meeting, as Zoom only functions after downloading. Moreover, the video quality can be unstable, resulting in blurry visuals or even disconnections during calls, regardless of whether a wired or wireless connection is used.

Conclusion

Zoom is undoubtedly the leading cloud-based video conferencing software, offering various features and use cases that cater to various industries and user needs. While some disadvantages exist, such as privacy and security concerns, the numerous advantages make it a popular choice for remote communication and collaboration. By understanding Zoom’s pros, cons, features, use cases, and pricing plans, users can decide whether it’s the ideal tool for their video conferencing and collaboration needs.

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