Not an American thing. I always have the camera enabled and it would be kinda odd to be in a meeting where half the people have the camera off.
For me it's a sign of respect, just like not playing on your phone in a in-person meeting.
For me it's a sign of respect, just like not playing on your phone in a in-person meeting.
Apart from scientific reasons...I also just like to talk and see my colleagues from time to time when we are already not in the same office, but I know that varies from person to person.
Not sure if it’s an ADHD hyper-focus thing or what.
It's the same as presenting to a room where half the attendees are on their phone - while it's conceivable that some of them are using it to (say) find a detail that the presenter missed, the more likely explanation is that they're checking their emails and/or Instagram.
I tell my team (remote infosec team) video is optional: on if you'd like, but no concerns if off. Respect and output is distinct from whether your camera is on, and I want those I work with (directs and peers) to be most comfortable during our work sessions, including consideration to introverts, those who might show signs of being on the spectrum and adverse to full time video, and so on. There will be no written test, but it will show if you are consistently not paying attention in these forums (assuming you are properly measuring output).
I admit this is culture and org dependent. I encourage those with the authority and aptitude to build good culture whenever within their control.
(my learnings for this topic come from several years at a fully remote startup, a variety of larger enterprises, and my own interactions with my children who are on the spectrum, have ADHD like myself, etc; TLDR give grace, its cheap)