Video conferencing platform Zoom is experiencing a major outage, leaving users unable to connect to video calls or even access its website. The outage, which began around 3PM ET, has sparked widespread disruption, with users taking to social media to report issues.

According to data from Downdetector, the outage appears to have started around 3PM ET, with users across the globe reporting difficulties in connecting to meetings or signing in to their accounts. Some users have reported receiving an "Unable to Connect" error message when attempting to join meetings, while others are unable to sign in at all.

This reporter was able to open the Zoom app on Mac, but received an error message when trying to sign in with Google. Instead of displaying a sign-in page within the browser, the page read: "This site can’t be reached. Check to see if there is a typo in google.zoom.com." The Zoom website is also completely down, displaying a 502 Bad Gateway error.

The cause of the outage is currently unknown, and it's unclear how long it will take for Zoom to resolve the issue. The Verge attempted to reach Zoom for comment, but the email bounced due to the outage. The company has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.

The outage is likely to have significant implications for businesses and individuals who rely on Zoom for daily meetings and communications. With the platform being a crucial tool for remote work, the disruption is likely to cause significant inconvenience and productivity losses.

This is not the first time Zoom has experienced an outage. In 2020, the platform suffered a series of outages, including one that lasted for several hours. The company has since taken steps to improve its infrastructure and reduce the likelihood of such outages, but it appears that more work needs to be done to ensure the platform's reliability.

The outage serves as a reminder of the importance of having backup plans in place for critical communication tools. As remote work continues to become the norm, it's essential for businesses and individuals to have contingency plans in place to mitigate the impact of such outages.

As the situation develops, we will continue to provide updates on the status of the outage and any further information provided by Zoom. In the meantime, users are advised to explore alternative video conferencing options to minimize disruption to their work and personal lives.