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Group chats make it east to stay in touh with a large group of family of friends, but there are some unwritten rules to keep in mind. Want to avoid muted chats, blocked people and reported message? Steer clear of these group chat and group texting etiquette no-nos.
- Don’t ask everyone to summarize chats you missed - If there’s a long discussion you didn’t at least skim, don’t ask questions like “Catch me up?” or “What did I miss?” People think that’s rude, so pretend you care by reading the messages already in the group chat before joining back in the chatter.
- Don’t send inappropriate images or videos - Or anything gross or gory without fair warning and confirming that everyone wants to see your surgery pics or whatever you’re trying to share.
- Don’t add new people without asking - A lot of us don’t like being around strangers in real life and that’s true for group chats, too.
- Don’t have one-on-one conversations - Whether it’s a disagreement or just sharing inside jokes with a friend in the group, it’s really not fun for the other members.
- Don’t assume they won’t get the notification until later - Poorly timed messages tend to tick people off, so remember that before you send one late at night or early morning.
- Don’t forget that what happens in the group stays in the group - We have an expectation that our group chats are safe spaces for sharing, so don’t pass along photos, videos, or personal info shared there without permission.
- Don’t be rude - We’re talking about repeatedly ignoring valid questions or comments from members, launching personal attacks, getting into full-on arguments or anything else a normal person might consider threatening or offensive. Be respectful and don’t push buttons.
- And don’t forward suspicious content - Unless you’re trying to get everyone in the group angry, don’t send malware, ransomware, links to sketchy sites or anything that could lead to identity theft or device failure. You’re better than that, so don’t be that person.