6 things you should do to stop the insanity within WhatsApp Groups

WhatsApp: Love it or hate it?

WhatsApp became the dream (or nightmare) of its users, mainly due to the constant notifications that we get in our phones, and this is directly related to if you’re a part of any or many groups. So here are 6 things you really should do to stop going insane every time you see that green bubble pop..

1. RESPECT THE GROUP’S REASON FOR BEING

As soon as you create a group (or enter one) make sure you’re clear of what will be its purpose. Is it just for a project? Is it to keep a social group in touch? What contents and behaviors are acceptable? If you’re an admin, then you are the one person who can stop comments and behaviors from going against the grou’s reason for being.

2. NO ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS

If there is something that should be settled or discussed between two people in the group, have them “take it outside”. If the outcome is relevant to the rest of the group, then they may discuss it there, but only if it has an impact on what everyone else reads in there. If they don’t have each other’s contact info, be kind and send it to them directly so they can carry on on their own.

3. TURN OFF SOUND NOTIFICATIONS

How am I supposed to know then if something comes up? What if I’m missing out something important? Well… it’s simple really. If you’re dealing with something so important chances are you’ll be checking your phone and see that there are new notifications. I promise this is the key element for more peaceful living. After all, if it’s something really important, chances are people will try to reach out in some other way.

4. LIMIT GROUP SIZE

A big part of why WhatsApp groups have become so annoying is that they have way too many participants. If you stay true to the purpose of your group, the number of participants will have to stay within control. Bigger communities are better handled in other platforms and settings that are less invasive, such as blogs, Twitter, or Facebook Groups. WhatsApp groups that go beyond 50 people tend to be extremely active and non-productive. (I do understand school groups may have to go beyond since there are at least 2 people involved per family, that may be the only exception) Groups with over 30 participants tend to be overly active and not quite efficient.

5. LIMIT YOUR ANSWERS

Why are WhatsApp groups so inproductive and annoying? Well, most of the time it happens because everyone answers “yes” after a simple comment or question just to make themselves seen. That makes the original comment lost in the comment section, and true interaction is hard. WhatsApp is a Messenger service, not a discussion forum or blog. Not all secondary responses go right after the main comment, as you could find within Facebook, Twitter, or other spaces. After a couple of comments, the main purpose or topic of the conversation is easily lost. So just reply when your input or response are requested, otherwise just follow the conversation.

6. BE SELECTIVE

WhatsApp has become a platform where contents come from unknown authors or sources. So before sharing anything… make sure you use the basic rule “Is it worth it” (I’m an economist and I do love this one). What is that content going to bring to people’s lives or to the conversation? Had no one shared it before? Is it relevant to other members of the group? Do you know who created it or sent it?  It’s not just about videos with barely respectable information about health hazards, politics, or worlwide news. This also applies to other contents. For example… How good is it for you to share with all your contacts the traditional “Good Morning”, “Good Night”, or “Share this to receive abundance” videos? Remember that you may have all sorts of contacts and groups, some of them related to your work life. A personal note or message will always be better received than just sharing generic contents. Make sure that what you’re sending is really something the other person (or people) in the group want to know about.

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