Whatsapp etiquette: The dos and don’ts of the nation’s favourite app

How to perfect your Whatsapp chat: Expert reveals the ultimate dos and don’ts of messaging – and you should NEVER leave some waiting more than two days for a reply

  • Experts have revealed how to navigate the delicate world of phone group chats
  • Revealed having a private conversation in group was voted as most annoying
  • Advised to only start group chats if essential and reply to messages in 48 hours 
  • Also named the five different types of group chat users, including the ‘lurker’ 

While group chats can be a lot of fun, they can also be the most annoying, alerts to receive to your phone.

While most of us are part of at least group chat on Whatsapp or Facebook messenger, many of us will have been tempted to mute the flurry of ‘bridesmaid duties’ or ‘Saturday night’ messages.

And new research by e2save has now revealed just what irks the nation most when it comes to group chats, and just how to conduct yourself to avoid a group eviction. 

Research found that while half of people surveyed admitted to hating people using group chats for private conversations, almost a quarter even found being part of one ‘stressful’.

UK experts have revealed how to navigate the delicate world of phone group chats, and revealed that having a private conversation in group was voted as most annoying trait, in a new survey

The survey found that as many as ninety-three per cent of smartphone users are in at least one group chat, with WhatsApp being the most popular at twenty-eight per cent, followed by Facebook messenger.

The most hated habit was people using group chat for private conversations, followed by  those who started one up when it wasn’t needed.

Elsewhere, forty-six per cent slammed those who took ages to reply to messages and thirty per cent admitted to being among those guilty of not replying.


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Meanwhile thirty-seven per cent cited those who didn’t explain the tone of their text as unacceptable, while twenty-four per cent were annoyed by those who replied late at night.

And despite the taboo of exiting a group chat, a third of people admitted to still making the bold move.

However, forty per cent revealed they would like to leave but deemed it too impolite, using the ‘mute’ button instead.

Group chat don’ts 

1. Don’t have a private conversation in a group chat 

2. Avoid starting a new group chat for superfluous reasons 

3. Don’t leave it longer than two days to respond to a message 

4. Don’t keep people awake at night

5. Don’t keep people guesting on whether you are being sarcastic or serious 

Group chat dos 

1. Keep private chat confined to direct messages with that person

2. Don’t start a new group chat unless essential

3. Try to reply to messages within 48 hours

4. Add emojis to explain the tone of your message

5. Reply to messages at reasonable times of the day and evening

Half of people admitted to hating people using group chats for private conversations, almost a quarter even found being part of one ‘stressful’

But it wasn’t all bad news, with eighty-one per cent of participants crediting group chats for helping them to maintain friendships and feel connected.  

Mobile expert Joe Linnington said: ‘As a group chat user myself, I think all of us are aware that sometimes they can be a bit annoying. There certainly is an etiquette to keeping all participants happy. 

‘However it is really nice to see such a large proportion of people using them to help maintain relationships and stay in touch as it can be so difficult to find the time.’

Types of group chat users 

1. The Lurker – A person who doesn’t respond for long periods at a time but joins in at random points (37%) 

2. The Cliff-Hanger – Someone who always instigates plans then doesn’t reply (30%) 

3. The Changer – The person who keeps changing the name or icon of the chat (12%) 

4. The Zombie – The participant who never sleeps and is always messaging at odd times (10%) 

5. The Happy Snapper – The person who bombards the group with constant memes and pictures (10%) 

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