4 ms·

It's there to protect users. They need to give consent to open the audio channel. As a usability / ux person, this one feature I actually like.

• fsh 4y ago
  Protect them from what? Being able to listen to the call?
  • digitalengineer 4y ago
    To protect them from accidentally speaking their mind, mentioning things that might get them in trouble if the other side hears it. to prevent this, Zoom (and others) ask you to click to open the mic. It's a GDPR thing: The default setting in most tools is that the user has to actively switch on their camera and microphone when they begin to participate.
    • fsh 4y ago
      Auto-muting new users is not the issue (every reasonable video chat software does this). The problem is that in Zoom you have to "join audio" before hearing anything. I guess they do this since you could in principle also join the call by phone. Anyway, this behavior is extremely confusing for inexperienced users.
      • leaflets2 4y ago
        > you have to "join audio" before hearing anything If it's a private meeting, you're going to listen only, but you're at a public place and didn't yet plug in your headphones?
      • digitalengineer 4y ago
        Ah, thanks for clarifying, I completely agree.