Why everyone hates online meetings in 2026

Virtual meetings are a way of life nowadays, but that doesn't mean people always like participating in them very much. 

The fact of the matter is, there are plenty of things at work we don't enjoy but still have to deal with on a regular basis. However, virtual meetings are known to be especially loathed by many.

For all of the major events in our lives, video calls have enhanced not only our work but also our social lives too. As a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, we have pretty much all recently gained expertise in using video tools. 

The convenience of web conferencing is one of the benefits of using online meeting platforms, particularly when people are spread across a country or round the World. Despite learning how to use such tools, not everyone is able to do so effectively. 

Today we’re going to go over why everyone hates online meetings, but most importantly what you can do to improve them. 

Why do we hate online meetings?

People hate online meetings primarily due to technical problems, lack of engagement, and ineffective communication, such as tech issues, self-consciousness from seeing oneself on screen, and participants being unknowingly muted.

In a remote setting, the right communication and collaboration tools are indispensable for holding a smooth virtual meeting. But online meetings can’t always be adequate substitutes for face-to-face interactions at work, especially if you don’t know how to enhance engagement during your webinars. 

Can online meetings be better?

These meetings can often seem like a waste of time if you’re a newbie and you lack a thorough plan. Having an unclear agenda can leave you wondering what the point of the meeting was in the first place. If you know what to do before, during and after a webinar, you can avoid such questions once and for all.

• Technical issues can make virtual meetings frustrating and disruptive.
• Screen fatigue from staring at yourself and others for hours can make meetings unpleasant.
• Mute mistakes and other awkward moments can interrupt the flow of a meeting.
• Poor planning can make online meetings feel like a waste of time, especially for less experienced hosts.
• Unclear agendas can leave participants wondering what the purpose of the meeting was.
• Knowing what to do before, during, and after a webinar can help avoid these problems.
• Despite these challenges, virtual meetings can be improved to make them more productive and inclusive.
• The first step is understanding the common mistakes people make during online meetings.

No backup plan for technical issues

Despite the many advantages of technology today, it has also made our lives more frustrating in many ways. There’s always a chance that something can go wrong if the software you’re using isn’t powerful enough to handle your online events.

While some platforms may still lag in features, many free and paid video conferencing tools in 2026 now incorporate advanced technologies to enhance user experience and reliability.

How to overcome technical issues? 

Combine all of these issues with the fact that not everyone is tech-savvy, and it’s easy to see why online meetings can become challenging. There are often no backup plans or troubleshooting options when issues arise during an online meeting. This, in turn, causes delays and wasted time.

Nowadays, it seems that every conferencing platform provides good quality, both technically and in terms of call management. However, this is often not the case. 

When trying to pick “the one” from all of the available platforms, check whether calls are routed to the nearest data center using the latest transmission technology, providing a high-quality experience. That’s how LiveWebinar works, by the way.

Lack of collaboration

Lack of collaboration in online meetings occurs because participants often disengage, multitask, or cannot easily interact, reducing audience participation and discussion.

Almost all video conferencing platforms struggle with preventing participants from becoming disengaged. When we conduct meetings through our computers, we can easily browse the internet while they’re ongoing without anyone else knowing. 

Asking questions, conducting real-time surveys, or handing over control can help engage participants. However, again, transmission problems might occur if your webinar platform isn’t able to manage multiple users at once (which today is a must).

You may also run into trouble if an employee wishes to share something with you on their screen - for example, if your lead designer needs to go over a content strategy, or your marketer wants help with analytics. You'll usually be expected to install software, activate screen sharing, and give them access to the main screen. These processes are time-consuming and can result in a meeting situation getting out of your control.

In fact, you can avoid these issues with a platform that enables you to:

• Assign tasks according to the specific roles of your attendees, such as host, collaborator, or audience member.
• Join a meeting straight from your browser, without the need to download an app.

What's also truly important in terms of engagement is to make room for conversation. Breakout rooms are the perfect way to help those who tune out when they feel like they're being talked at instead of included in the conversation. Moreover, it's a great way to stay in touch at a time when close contact isn't always possible.  

Leaving no space for networking

• Lack of networking time is a common mistake at virtual conferences.
• Networking can help attendees discover new opportunities, industries, career insights, and professional connections.
• Unlike in-person events, virtual meetings don’t always give attendees a natural opportunity to chat with peers after a session.
• Adding 5–10 minutes of networking time after each session can create a stronger sense of community.
• Extra networking time can help attendees build relationships with colleagues, employers, and potential business contacts.
• One valuable connection can potentially lead to interviews, meetings, or other professional opportunities.
• Without dedicated networking time, virtual events may miss out on these valuable opportunities for connection.

How can they be improved?

Following on from our discussion of why online meetings are so disliked, let's talk about how they can be improved. 

It’s easy to get these things wrong when it comes to online meetings. But there’s a lot that can be done right, too. While the coronavirus pandemic has forced us all to be a bit more forgiving and understanding about meeting distractions and technical glitches, we should all still strive to do our best to be respectful and keep things moving. Sometimes it’s better to start with the assumption of “better done than perfect” just to start the creative process and then learn from your own experiences.

Starting with the implementation of a few small tips can significantly improve the virtual meeting experience for you and your team. 

Teams that can’t meet face to face rely on great virtual meetings to build those lasting professional relationships that help them get work done. 

So here’s a list of ways to improve your online meetings.

Familiarize yourself with the technology

To improve online meetings, ensure all users are familiar with the virtual meeting app by sending them short instructional emails before the meeting. The management and IT teams can help you and your group get up to speed. 

Before conducting an important business meeting, those involved should practice before the meeting even starts. It's even better that many virtual meeting apps offer options to practice these things without starting a meeting. 

Another thing to consider is other attendees' fields of view, the lighting in the room you’re in, and whether or not people are standing too close to their cameras.

You could also consider performing a workflow analysis to see how efficient your business processes are and where they can be improved. Once you have an idea of what can be improved, it can result in fewer unnecessary online meetings altogether.

Have someone help you with the technology

If you still don’t feel comfortable enough to use certain tools on your own, you could also get someone to help you. 

There are countless tech-savvy people out there who can help you troubleshoot problems during an online meeting. There may even be people inside your company who can be of assistance. Elect a moderator to keep an eye on things while the meeting is taking place so you never have to waste valuable time again.

If you regularly host such online meetings, it can be a relief to know that someone is there to fix any issues. Maybe you don’t have to go far! Technical support provided by your webinar system vendor should be willing to help you whenever necessary. 

Make a plan for participation

Virtual meetings must have a participative element in order to achieve the same effect as in-person meetings. 

If participants are unfamiliar with one another, you can encourage them to all get involved by asking them to introduce themselves. 

Alternatively, if most of the people on the call already know each other, you can encourage participation by introducing a quick ice breaker prior to the meeting. 

A great way to do this is by implementing a group activity that requires everyone’s involvement. Another simple way to start is by asking everyone how their day has been. Getting everyone to take part increases participation once the meeting begins. 

One thing to keep in mind is that some members of the meeting might not be native English speakers. So make sure to use clear and concise language during your online meetings to be sure that all attendees can understand what is being said. You can also provide them with a glossary of the keywords you’ll be using so you can be confident that everyone understands the essential message of the webinar. 

Have a clear and well-communicated agenda

It’s critical to have a clear agenda for online meetings. Meetings with unclear objectives usually result in a lot of wasted time. 

To simplify meeting preparation, set a formal agenda with the key topics to be discussed and put them in order according to your business requirements. After you have done that, send the agenda to everyone who will be participating in the meeting so they can also get a good sense of what it will be about. 

You should also outline the role that each participant will play during the meeting. The agenda should be sent at least 24 to 48 hours in advance, and make sure that receipt of it is acknowledged by all participants. 

Often, meetings suffer from unrealistic expectations that group consensus will guide decision-making. Even though a consensus within the group is a great form of diplomacy in the workplace, it’s not always possible. 

Those responsible should make it clear to the group about it so that they can make decisions accurately and move on properly.

Put simply, keep the agenda short and clear so there’s no confusion.  

Online meetings can be enjoyable

Communication is ripe with possibilities and fraught with challenges as we continue into this age of information and technology. 

It can be difficult to manage online meetings when people are located in different cities or countries. Despite this, now that remote work isn’t going away anytime soon, virtual meetings have become more widely accepted.

By preparing in advance and ensuring that your meetings are well structured, moderated, and communicated, they can still be extremely useful for connecting different people in your company. Also, compare webinar software systems before you choose the right solution for you. 

The upside is that such tools can help you save on travel and communication costs.

Top 10 Tips to Make Online Meetings Enjoyable:

1. Keep Meetings Purposeful
Only schedule meetings when necessary. Always share a clear agenda so participants know what to expect and can come prepared.

2. Respect Time
Start and end on time. Be concise and stick to the agenda to avoid unnecessary tangents. Shorten meetings when possible—the ideal online meeting is 25-45 minutes.

3. Encourage Participation
Involve everyone: ask direct questions, rotate facilitators, or use features like polls, breakout rooms, and chat. People are more engaged and enjoy meetings where their voices matter.

4. Make Meetings Interactive & Fun
Add a personal touch: open with a quick check-in, a fun icebreaker, or a team-building activity. Use visuals, reactions, and keep the atmosphere light when possible.

5. Show Appreciation
Thank participants for their time and contributions. Celebrate wins and progress, and recognize individual and team achievements.

6. Use the Right Tech
Choose easy-to-use, reliable platforms. Familiarize everyone with features like screen sharing, reactions, and chat to keep meetings smooth and interactive.

7. Embrace Video Mindfully
Encourage (not force) cameras on, but respect when someone needs them off. Seeing faces helps, but comfort matters too.

8. Avoid Meeting Overload
Routinely review your meeting schedule. Cancel or combine meetings that are unnecessary, and build in "meeting-free" times or days.

9. Follow Up Clearly
After the meeting, send a brief summary with action items and deadlines. This ensures everyone leaves knowing what to do next—and feeling the meeting was worthwhile.

10. Welcome Feedback
Regularly ask your team how meetings can improve. Act on suggestions to show you value everyone’s input.

The result? People are more likely to look forward to meetings that are efficient, interactive, and respectful of their time and energy. Small changes make a big difference!

In order to remain effective, you need to make sure to apply the strategies listed above in your workplace. Hosting inefficient meetings is easy, but making a boring meeting more effective takes practice and effort.

Sign up for LiveWebinar for free and make the most of online meetings!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an online meeting be?

There is no one ideal length, but shorter meetings are often easier to manage and keep participants focused. If a topic requires more time, consider adding breaks or dividing the meeting into shorter sessions.

How can I make online meetings more engaging?

Use interactive features such as polls, chat, Q&A, breakout rooms, and screen sharing. Giving participants opportunities to contribute can make meetings feel less passive.

How can I reduce online meeting fatigue?

Keep meetings focused, avoid unnecessary calls, share an agenda in advance, and give participants time away from the screen between sessions. Not every discussion needs to be a meeting.

What makes an online meeting effective?

A clear purpose, a simple agenda, the right participants, and good time management are key. It also helps to make sure everyone knows what is expected before the meeting starts.

Should every online meeting have an agenda?

An agenda can help keep the conversation focused and make it easier for participants to prepare. Even a short list of topics and goals can make a difference.

How can technology improve online meetings?

The right platform can make meetings more interactive and easier to manage. Features such as chat, polls, Q&A, screen sharing, recording, and breakout rooms can support better communication and collaboration.

Are online meetings still useful in 2026?

Yes. Online meetings can be useful for remote teams, training, presentations, webinars, client communication, and collaboration. The key is using them when they add value rather than scheduling meetings simply out of habit.

How can I make online meetings less boring?

Keep presentations concise and include opportunities for interaction. Asking questions, using polls, changing the format, and involving participants can help break up long periods of passive listening.

What is the biggest mistake people make with online meetings?

One common mistake is treating an online meeting exactly like an in-person meeting. Online participants can become distracted or tired more easily, so meetings often benefit from shorter sessions, clearer structure, and more interaction.