Whatsapp group rules are there for a reason

Whether you are part of a formal or informal Whatsapp group, there are certain rules to stick by that should not be ignored. Yet, few people take into consideration these rules. Rules are there for a reason – be it for legal purposes or simply to avoid non-sensical texts.

Here are a couple of rules  from www.swaddle.com to keep in mind when you are part of a Whatsapp group:

Rule #1: Just. Send. Short. Messages. Seriously.

If every message you send is endless sentences and reams of text or bad jokes with lots of space between the sentences which is just plain irritating and you think people are reading it or and resisting the urge to block you; then you are sadly mistaken and what’s worse, you have misunderstood the point of WhatsApp, which is to text, like SMS, which means Short Messaging Service. Stop writing letters on WhatsApp.

Rule #2: When in doubt, don’t forward. Actually, just don’t forward.

Not everything you read is true, and most things on the Internet are false. WhatsApp has become a repository of fake information and forwards. Verify things before passing them on, using on websites like snopes.com, breakthechain.org and hoaxbusters.ciac.org – or, for country-specific news, just use Google to fact-check before you hit send.

Rule #3: Use your words.

Smiley face, smiley face, monkey with eyes covered, the girl dancing, strange Japanese emoji no one knows, poop emoji, crying face emoji, flower emoji, red throbbing heart, purple heart, angry emoji, laughing emoji.

Use your words. Emojis are cute, but if you’re an adult in a WhatsApp group full of adults, well, use adult language. If you’re just satisfying your urge to send emojis out into the universe as part of some primal-scream-emoji therapy, please text your doctor. See the utter lack of emojis here?

Rule #4: Consider every share.

People don’t care about your meals, jokes, good morning messages, baby memes, videos of people falling or slipping, political views, your offspring and your latest holiday. Even less, when the photos, links and videos you share eat up their data and phone storage.

So STOP. Immediately. Now.