Mirror video in Zoom is a feature that flips your camera's display horizontally only for you. What you see on your screen is a mirrored version of yourself, similar to how you see yourself in a mirror. Importantly, other participants in the Zoom meeting see your video in its natural, unmirrored state.
Why Does Zoom Mirror My Video?
The primary reason Zoom uses mirror video by default is user comfort. Seeing yourself mirrored is generally more intuitive and familiar because it's how we typically view ourselves. This reduces self-consciousness and makes it easier to adjust your appearance or positioning.
How Does It Work?
Zoom automatically mirrors the video you see. This setting can usually be adjusted in your Zoom video settings if you prefer to see the unmirrored version. However, the key thing to remember is that regardless of what you see, other attendees see the correct, unmirrored version of your video.
Benefits of Mirroring
- Familiarity: Replicates the familiar mirror image for ease of self-assessment.
- Intuitive Adjustments: Makes it easier to adjust your appearance or position in the frame.
- Reduced Self-Consciousness: The comfort of a mirrored view can reduce anxiety about appearing on video.
Mirroring Doesn't Affect Others
It's important to reiterate that the mirroring is local to your view only. Other participants in the meeting see the non-mirrored (correct) version of your video, so you don't need to worry about them seeing flipped text or other visual elements.
How to Change Mirroring Settings
You can typically toggle the "Mirror my video" setting in your Zoom video settings. Look for it in the video settings within the Zoom application itself. Disabling it will show you the unmirrored version of your video.
In summary, mirror video in Zoom is a feature designed to make your video conferencing experience more comfortable by presenting a flipped, mirror-like image of yourself, without affecting how other participants see you.
