During video calls, people have told me they can notice when I switch browser tabs because the light from my monitor changes on my face. Is lowering my screen brightness enough to prevent that, or are there better ways to make these changes less noticeable?
4 Answers
Yes, noticeable changes in screen brightness can give it away, especially if the room is dark and your monitor is the main light source. Lowering the brightness may help, but a well-lit room or a lamp placed behind or beside the monitor will make the changes much less obvious.
People can notice movement or changes in lighting even when they aren't actively staring at your video tile. That said, switching tabs is completely normal during a meeting for taking notes, checking links, or presenting. If coworkers are concerned, the bigger issue may be whether you're missing information or failing to follow up afterward.
Improving the room lighting is probably more effective than simply dimming the screen. A soft light aimed at your face can balance out the monitor glow, and using dark mode may reduce large changes in brightness when switching between windows.
A bright video light behind the monitor can wash out the changes in monitor light and usually makes the camera image look better too. If you wear glasses, though, people may still see screen reflections in the lenses.
That seems like the practical concern. Switching tabs itself isn't unusual, but repeatedly asking for information that was already discussed can make people think you're not paying attention.