The Relevance of Visual Backgrounds in Video Conferencing in Professional Telework Contexts

Stefan Stautner

No cyz3k, OSF Preprints from Center for Open Science

Abstract: The widespread adoption of telework has elevated video conferencing from a convenience to a core modality of professional communication. While bandwidth, audio quality, and participant engagement have often been at the forefront of discussion, the role of visual backgrounds—be they physical or virtual—warrants closer theoretical examination. This paper explores established frameworks from organizational psychology, media studies, communication theory, and critical theory to elucidate how backgrounds influence professional credibility, attention, privacy, and organizational culture in remote work settings. By drawing on symbolic interactionism, social presence theory, impression management, and insights from the Frankfurt School—particularly Walter Benjamin’s concept of “aura”—this study offers a theoretical roadmap for understanding how visual backgrounds can subtly shape professional perceptions, authenticity, and outcomes.

Date: 2025-01-09
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://osf.io/download/6778809d29a895e7b3697da2/

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:osf:osfxxx:cyz3k

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/cyz3k

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in OSF Preprints from Center for Open Science
Bibliographic data for series maintained by OSF ().