An estimated three trillion minutes of calls have taken place on the platform in the past year alone; but this ubiquity has brought with it a certain notoriety, too.

More and more of us are suffering from “Zoom fatigue”: the energy-sapping effect that comes about as a result of having to read and respond to others in a virtual environment.

Researchers have found that video calls appear to be more exhausting than real-life interactions, possibly because our attention is taken up trying to self-monitor the impression we make (unlike real life, on Zoom you’re always aware of your own face being reflected back at you).

There’s also an extra effort involved in trying to read other people’s non-verbal cues, with inevitable awkward moments caused by silences or delays adding to an undercurrent of stress.

Virtual handshakes and the aroma of coffee: is Zoom becoming more human?