Google Meet Brings Features To Stop Annoying Attendees

JAKARTA - When attending a meeting or virtual learning, there are usually participants who don't understand how to turn off the microphone, or intentionally interrupt when a video conference is in progress.

To address this, Google Meet is rolling out a new Audio and Video Lock feature where hosts can stop participants from any kind of activity they are doing. Google says this feature can deter attendees from potentially disrupting the event.

This feature is embedded in the Host management menu, which allows the host to prevent participants from sharing screens, sending messages, turning on the microphone, and camera. Participants will also not be able to revive it before the host allows it.

According to Google quoted from Android Police, Friday, October 22, this effort actually sounds like a useful feature for certain scenarios where if there is an annoying meeting participant it can be stopped immediately.

But that's not all, the Audio and Video Lock feature can also turn a meeting or virtual meeting into something more like Twitter's Spaces, where participants can't talk by default and have to wait for permission manually by the host.

Keep in mind, the Audio and Video Lock feature can also be used if the participant uses the same version of Meet as the host. If not, it is likely that certain participants will automatically leave the room when the host activates the lock. Exit participants will not be able to re-enter the room, until the lock is deactivated.

The Audio and Video Lock feature will be available for users of Android 6.0 and up, and will be available for the web version. Reportedly, the feature is currently rolling out to all Google Workspace users and may take up to 15 days to be shown to everyone. If you want to give it a try, make sure you've updated your Google Meet app.