Zoom towns: a new trend for remote workers

Zoom towns – you may have heard the phrase, but what does it actually mean?

We take a look at what Zoom towns are and why they’re growing in popularity.

Zoom towns explained

According to the clean slang dictionary Slangit, a Zoom town is a small community that is growing quickly due to the rise of remote work.

Albeit due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Zoom towns are becoming increasingly popular as newly-remote workers have opted already or are deciding to move out of the hustle and bustle of the city life into less urban/more rural-like areas.

The term Zoom town was coined by journalists who combined the name of Zoom video conferencing with the term “boom town” for quickly-growing rural communities.

Slangit continues to explain that the average population in these towns is usually less than 10 000 and “located either in or near popular vacation destinations and natural areas.”

The site also mentions some Zoom towns are now feeling the strain of their increased populations, and may soon become just as overburdened and unaffordable as the cities remote workers had left.

However, it is also worth mentioning that the real estate market can be directly influenced by this migration.

Popular Zoom town destinations in SA

“The Platteland” region in the Western Cape, specifically the Karoo, appears to be attracting individuals from across the country to its sublime country-side appeal and has even seen the likes of Daily Maverick founder and editor-in-chief Branko Brkic and lifestyle editor Emily Gambade make their way to the dorpie.

Prince Albert, Riebeek Kasteel and Napier (Western Cape), as well as Bedford, Steytlerville and Nieu-Bethesda (Eastern Cape), have also seen an increase in Zoom town migrants. 

Nomad visas

Remote working has undoubtedly changed the way in which many companies, individuals and other entities conduct business. Countries across the world have also adapted to the new-normal with some even offering digital nomad visas to successful candidates. European nation Croatia now offers foreign nationals the opportunity to apply for a temporary stay permit for up to one year without local company sponsorship. The new visa allows for foreign nationals to reside and work remotely from Croatia. This opportunity came into effect on January 1, 2021, and will also help to boost economic activity by attracting long-term visitors to the country. Click here for more information.

Zoom towners lingo

Here are a few more terms published on Slangit that Zoom towners may want to familiarise themselves with:

• WFH: Work from home
• Rona: Coronavirus
• Zooze: Drinking with friends over Zoom
• WAHM: Work-at-home mom
• GB2W: Get back to work
• WAH: Work at home
• Coffice: Coffee shop office