Zoom Specific Technical Guidance

Access this UUA guidance for up-to-date information on keeping Zoom safe.

Account Settings

To have control, especially if trolls try to enter your zoom room, set these settings up in your Zoom account (by logging in online).

Turn on:

  • Mute participants on entry

  • Co-host

  • Allow host to put attendee on hold

  • Always show meeting control tool bar

  • Screensharing, but only allow the host to share

  • Use the password function

Turn off:

  • Annotation

  • Whiteboard

  • Remote Control

  • Allow removed participants to rejoin

Options to Control Who is in the Zoom Room (Dependent on Zoom License)

  1. Once a youth is registered for event send them a link to register for the zoom so they have a unique link with a password.

  2. Create a unique meeting ID and password for each gathering and send shortly before the gathering to reduce the chance it is shared with those who shouldn’t be there.

  3. Consider using the “waiting room” function which allows you to control who is being allowed into a youth space. Ask that people at least have their cameras on initially so that you can confirm who is attending. For those without a webcam, check the registration list.

  4. You can also ask all your participants to set up a free zoom account with their registered name and use the Identify Guest Participants to notice if someone is in the room who shouldn’t be.

  5. Once your expected participants are present “lock” the meeting.

  6. For any of the above: Provide a phone number in your email for participants to call or text if they’re having trouble getting in.​

Settings to Consider Using with Youth

Turn Off “Private Chatting”

We recommend turning off private chatting at the beginning of a gathering at least until all participants are present and the meeting can be locked. When private chatting is turned on, adults must understand that private chatting with youth is against policy. Because inappropriate exchanges can happen privately and be invisible to event leaders, consider carefully when and why to allow private chatting especially before community is built and covenants created.

Dealing with Possible Zoom Bombing

In the beginning of a larger meeting consider these settings:

  • Turn off the chat so no one can chat

  • “Mute All” participants and turn off their ability to unmute themselves.

  • Spotlight your own video for now

  • Disable screen sharing.

You can selectively change these settings as the program begins. You may wish to enable the chat at some times, but not others. You can also mute/unmute participants yourself instead of allowing them to do so themselves.

If you are hit with a zoom bomber, open the Participant List, remove the participants behaving inappropriately, and lock the meeting.