Zoom Parties?

[elbenn]

I just saw a reference to a zoom party. How do you do this? I know my kids use zoom for school classes but can anyone use it? How much does it cost to be the host of a zoom party?

[PZMommy]

Zoom is free to use. However there is a 40 minute limit to meetings, unless you sign up with a school email. In that case, you get a free premium account and there is no time limit on that. You can pay for a premium account too, but I have no idea what the cost is.

[Globetrotter]

Zoom has waived the 40 minute time limit. However, it’s probably best if you do it outside of work hours so the system doesn’t crash. DH is concerned about it but I don’t know if that’s a valid issue. We’ve done a few of those, and it’s worked out really well!

[Melaine]

Yes it’s a good platform for social meetings. We are using it right now with extended family. However you do want to use a password. Hackers have been breaking into zoom calls and showing pornagraphic images. It happened this week to a friend’s bible study, so I am sure it’s a widespread issue.

[jgenie]

Yes it’s a good platform for social meetings. We are using it right now with extended family. However you do want to use a password. Hackers have been breaking into zoom calls and showing pornagraphic images. It happened this week to a friend’s bible study, so I am sure it’s a widespread issue.

Thank you for posting this!

[petesgirl]

Yes it’s a good platform for social meetings. We are using it right now with extended family. However you do want to use a password. Hackers have been breaking into zoom calls and showing pornagraphic images. It happened this week to a friend’s bible study, so I am sure it’s a widespread issue.

Ugh, why are there stupid, sick people in this world?!?

[Melaine]

Ugh, why are there stupid, sick people in this world?!?

It’s so disheartening 😩

[California]

I was a zoom newbie two weeks ago, and have found it very easy to pick up.

When you join Zoom, you'll receive an ID for all the meetings that you host. You can send that ID out to invite friends to a mtg. If you want to set up a password, you can do that through the 'schedule a meeting' option. There may be another way to do it, but that's how we've done it. Your friends will need the mtg ID# and the password to enter your mtg.

We held a zoom game party this past week for our girls and neighborhood 14-16 year olds. DH and I helped moderate. First they talked all over each other. Then I used the 'mute all participants' option, and asked the girls to do a little check in to start. I unmuted them one at a time and they shared how they are doing. They played Reverse Charades, with DH coming in to run the game. (Just had whoever was guessing close their eyes, while he showed everyone else the card.) They liked it so much they played for over an hour. After that, we offered to leave them alone to chat. They said no, they preferred having me moderate. I'm sure they will get better at this with time! But right now they are still working out who-talks-when. So we finished with me muting the group again, picking one speaker at a time to share something- and then I'd unmute them all and they'd talk with each other about whatever was shared. Then on to the next person. They really liked it and want to make it a weekly thing. So we're going to have to find more games!!

Both my girls are holding GS mtgs using Zoom. After DH and I got them started, they are now able to do it all on their own. It's very straightforward!

[essnce629]

Zoom has waived the 40 minute time limit. However, it’s probably best if you do it outside of work hours so the system doesn’t crash. DH is concerned about it but I don’t know if that’s a valid issue. We’ve done a few of those, and it’s worked out really well!

Really? I just got off a Zoom meeting right now and on Friday and both timed out at 40 minutes and I had to resend everyone a link by email to restart. So I just decided to pay the $14.99 for the premium account for the next month so I don't have to deal with that. I chatted with my best friends for 2.5 hours!

[ett]

Really? I just got off a Zoom meeting right now and on Friday and both timed out at 40 minutes and I had to resend everyone a link by email to restart. So I just decided to pay the $14.99 for the premium account for the next month so I don't have to deal with that. I chatted with my best friends for 2.5 hours!

During a boy scout meeting last week a message popped up saying that they were allowing the meeting to go past the 40 minutes. So it doesn't seem like they a waiving it in general but perhaps for specific sessions.