Google Meet cannot detect if you switched tabs unless if you have allowed screen sharing where the instructor views your screen. Without sharing the screen, it is hard for the instructor to view your apps on the PC or on your phone. However, they can monitor your movements via the camera, which can tell your behavior.
How do teachers know when you switch tabs on Google Meet?
Hence this possibility can be safely eliminated. A more sensible explanation is that the teacher is knowing when you switch tabs on Google Meet either by studying your facial expressions or changes in the light from the laptop screen being reflected onto your face.
This begs the question “What happens when you close a tab in Google Meet?”
Closing the tab should also exit you from the Meet, which will mean your camera is no longer broadcasting anything. So, whatever indication you are using that makes you think the camera is on, just means that the camera still has power, it does not mean it is being accessed by anything. Will my teachers know if I switch tabs in Google Meet?
Can teachers tell if students are on Google meet during meetings?
But what users did not expect was an alleged option allowing teachers to tell if their students during a meeting are on the Google Meet tab or are distracted doing stuff on some other website.
Can people see when you change tabs on the screen?
No, they can’t. (unless they are using a spy software, but that’s a way bigger issue). But sometimes it’s easy to tell if a person changes between tabs based on the light reflection on their face/eyes. If you see a sudden change of light in the participant’s face, they are probably checking other tabs :).
Some teacher told us there is a locked mode or lockdown mode option that once enabled he specifically said he will get notified whenever a student changes the tab or switches to another app.