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Comment by mlindner | Hacker News Reader

I have a much younger cousin who's in their teens. Teens of today prefer text messaging because they don't have to show their face. Even when my cousins video chat they don't like to show their face and will aim the camera in other directions despite being in video chat.

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I feel nobody “likes” video chat beyond small children and grandparents- I know I always endeavor to have connection issues.

This is because while we chat with people in-person, we're not as aware that people are looking at us. We feel more free to react with body language, or expression. We can interrupt without the awkward, "Oh, I'm sorry, you go first". The communication via Zoom/Google is very synchronous. It's so unnatural to the point that most hate it. I agree, my mom loves seeing my kids on video though.

I like them for doctor appointments and basically hate them for absolutely everything else. Job interviews, meetings, family things. They are all a terrible experiences

Virtual medicine is the one thing that is really useful because the majority are of doctor visits are a waste of time and I go to the doctor a lot, if not once a week sometimes 3 in a single week. That doesn't even count the 2 times a week I usually have to go for a blood draw. Outside of the lab I honestly can't recall the last time in person part being necessary

The solution is simple. State that you are not comfortable with it. If others cannot respect that then that is their own issue.

That wouldn't necessarily be easy in the long run. Look at how many people hate Facebook but use it anyway because they're essentially socially forced to.

Appearing on a camera doesn't prevent the conveyance of information in real-time if we assume that both parties aren't deaf.

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