Psychology says people who keep their cameras off during meetings aren’t always disengaged, their brain may be protecting them from something important

Ever since remote work and online classes became common, one debate refuses to disappear. Should cameras be on or off during meetings? Managers often assume that people who keep their cameras off are distracted, uninterested, or not paying attention. Yet psychology suggests the reality is often much more complicated.

In fact, many people who leave their cameras off may be fully engaged in the discussion. Their decision may have more to do with mental energy, self-awareness, privacy, or stress than laziness.