ZOOM: The “zoom.us” video conferencing application-service allows the connection of up to 100 people at the same time and the exchange of video and audio. Participants can access from any device with an internet connection, such as a computer, tablet, mobile phone. The necessary software is provided free of charge and varies depending on the connection medium.
Those who connect via computer simply “execute” the “zoom_launcher.exe” file that is automatically downloaded to their computer the first time they attempt to connect (JOIN A MEETING) to an online video conference.
Those using “android smartphones” can download the corresponding application “ZOOM Cloud Meetings” from Google Play by clicking here.
“iPhone” owners can download the corresponding ZOOM Cloud Meetings application from the App Store by clicking here.
How ZOOM works
It provides free and paid services such as “video webinar”, “Zoom rooms”, “screen sharing”, “whiteboard use” and “chat” and allows unlimited online meetings, either for one-on-one lessons or for larger “groups”. In the second case, i.e. for meetings of three people or more, the duration of each video conference cannot exceed 40 minutes (in the free package).
To use the platform, a user must create an account using their email address and a password. Then the platform gives him a personal hyperlink for his own online meeting which he shares with the rest of the participants.
Among the advantages we will mention the user-friendliness, the very good sound and image quality, the digital “whiteboarding” and the possibility given to the participants to share content (screen share) with a “click”, to comment in real time but also to see/listen to the recording of the previous meeting again, whenever they wish, or it is deemed necessary.
What is the age limit required?
“Zoom’s” Privacy Policy states that:
“”Zoom” does not allow children under 16 to register with their own accounts.”
When creating an account, users are asked for their date of birth, but no other age verification is done.
However, users are not required to create a “Zoom” account to join a “Zoom” meeting.
Privacy and security
As with any app or platform, it’s important to understand how it works and the potential risks of using it.
“Zoom” –which is gaining hundreds of thousands of new users every day around the world– has been criticized for, among other things, sending user data to “Facebook”, making “Mac” users vulnerable to hackers who can trap the microphone and camera of the user’s computer (category derived from the former “hacker” of the US National Security Agency-NSA), that it has misleadingly claimed to have full encryption (end-to-end), that it allows the “organizers” of the video conferences to monitor the participants, etc.
Founder and CEO Eric Yuan, who created Zoom in 2011, apologized in a blog post that the platform has not been as secure as it should have been and pledged to address any issues.
It was justified that the use of “Zoom” exceeded all expectations before the coronavirus pandemic, as it “launched overnight”. As he said,
“At the end of last December, the maximum number of daily users, free and paid, was about ten million, while in March this year it exceeded 200 million.”
Meeting privacy
It is important to ensure that private information is not shared in a public space and consider who receives details about a meeting and how that information is shared. “Zoom” meetings now have password access enabled by default. This means that those who wish to join the meeting must enter the meeting “ID” and enter a “password” to gain access. However, the meeting “url” can be used by participants to join the meeting without the “password”.
Waiting room
The “waiting room” feature is a virtual holding area that prevents participants from joining a meeting until the host accepts them and grants them access. This setting is enabled by default for “Zoom” meetings.
Lock meeting
Locking a meeting that has started restricts new users from joining even if they have the meeting “ID” and password.
Screen controls
To prevent participants from accidentally taking control of the screen, the hosts can restrict permissions using the control panel. This can be adjusted both before the meeting and during the meeting.
Coordinating and managing participants
“Zoom” offers some useful tools for video conferencing control that include allowing hosts to mute the participant’s video, mute participants, disable file transfer, and disable group or private chat.
Tips for parents
— Familiarize yourself with app settings and perform safety functions with your child: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us
— Use secure privacy settings.
— Remind your child to share meeting links with friends and avoid sharing links on social media.
— Use a new password for each “Zoom” meeting.
— It is good before the child’s participation in such meetings to discuss with him what kinds of things he is allowed to “share” on the Internet and what information he should not share.
— It is important that the child understands that they can and should talk to you if they come across something inappropriate or disturbing online.
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