Have they made online classes harder?

I don't know if this is a CUNY wide thing or just some professors, but I have found that online classes have been made MUCH more difficult.

I started during the pandemic, and online classes felt like online classes - the in person class but online, even for asynchronous. In class work/lecture, an assignment, that's it.

Now, it seems that they desperately want you in person because the work load is actually LESS than online.

Example: I'm taking this class asynchronously. We have a quiz due each week, and a 2 page discussion as well. That's bonkers, 2 pagers about nothing.

My friend, who's taking a different professor in person says there's only periodic assignments due throughout the semester, and a 2 tests (midterm and final).

I understand making online classes slightly harder to make sure students are learning the same material as in person, but it just feels like they're just making it more menial.