Want to know the most important parts of speaking on video, especially when you are hosting the conversation? Inclusion, consent, and clarity. Today I’m talking about consent and will get to the others over the next few days.

If you’re working from home, the walls between professional and personal have come crashing down in a never-ending Zoom meeting. Video communication can be a powerful way to speak up and be heard—especially for those of us who identify as analytical or soft-spoken.

But video communication can silence voices too. It’s important to find ways to be “in the room” in a way that feels safe.

Today, I’m talking about consent on video because virtual space is personal space. You have the right to advocate for yourself in virtual spaces. You have the right to speak up in whatever way makes you feel most confident and comfortable.

If someone wants to do a video call and you’re Zoom fatigued, advocate for the phone. If you don’t trust a particular video-conferencing software, suggest one that feels safer.

You have the right to choose to have your video off, and no one should force you to put it on—especially if you’re tending to children or dealing with bandwidth issues. But remember that communication is contagious: If your video is off because of fear, the room won’t feel your presence. If you need to have it off, I recommend clearly communicating why and interacting in chat throughout the call so you’re “in the room”.

On the flip side, if you’re hosting and you want to take a screenshot of a video call, ask permission. If you’re recording, you should tell participants what you’ll use the footage for and give them an option to opt-out. Give people a variety of ways to opt-out too so they don’t feel put on the spot. Ask them to privately chat you or email you later and you can edit them out of the footage.

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