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Original poster

That's it, I can no longer use watsapp...

33 replies

InterFactual · 05/10/2023 12:21

I've been added to the work watsapp group, trust me when I say that rejecting the invite wasn't an option this time.

I just know I'll accidentally text them something stupid like a pic of my kids tonsils or an embarassing meme meant for my husband.

Anyone else in the same boat? How do you group chat now watsapp has been spoiled forever? I'm working on smoke signals in my back garden.

OP posts:
Caledoniadreaming · 05/10/2023 12:36

Just archive the chat. You haven't left, and you also don't get the notifications, without accidentally sending the group random texts.

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 05/10/2023 12:38

Agree, achive and mute! That'd what I do with group chats.

RaeHitsEbSire · 05/10/2023 12:43

Don't understand how folk can be forced to join work WhatsApps, unless it's on a work phone. I don't use WhatsApp at all.

Bimbimmer · 05/10/2023 12:59

I hear you, OP - started a new job earlier in the year which involves collaborating with numerous stakeholders, on various committees. Each committee has their own group, then heads of committees have another. I apparently ‘need’ to be on all of them to keep up with what’s going on - but because the majority of members also work full time, I am inundated with messages and updates at all hours, every day. Not what I signed up for 😩

UsernamenotavailableBob · 05/10/2023 13:05

Archive the chat, problem solved.

BarbaraofSeville · 05/10/2023 13:05

So mute all the notifications and don't look at it. It's very easy to ignore it if you choose to.

Snickerrs · 05/10/2023 13:22

Set the photo for your husband as a red circle or stop sign or something? change the background to the work chat to be different to your other groups and chats.
Make it easier to go to the correct chat and spot when you are in the wrong one!

OrribleAlloween · 05/10/2023 13:51

Mute, mute, mute!

We got put into one with no option, and it’s a bit “Hotel California” (you can never leave😩) but there is so much crap on it….
I was woken up by it going nuts at 1.35am one morning as 2 of the younger staff were having an silly argument over who’d not done a particular job - that was me out of the loop😡
Last weeks treat was 17 messages over the bus timetable!😱

I loathe it with a passion but it seems to be an unspoken rule that we MUST be in it.

PickledPurplePickle · 05/10/2023 13:55

Mute and archive

CloudPop · 05/10/2023 14:22

I'm amazed companies allow this, let alone encourage it. So potentially important/commercially sensitive information is being shared on an encrypted platform that the company has no access to (eg Johnson/Sunak "losing" their WhatsApp history). It's shocking data governance practice. Most big corporations forbid it as a vehicle for corporate communications

PurpleMonkeys · 05/10/2023 14:25

On what grounds can a company insist that you use a third party app on your private mobile phone?

They want you to have WhatsApp, they can supply the equipment, otherwise, refuse.

UsernamenotavailableBob · 05/10/2023 14:29

CloudPop · 05/10/2023 14:22

I'm amazed companies allow this, let alone encourage it. So potentially important/commercially sensitive information is being shared on an encrypted platform that the company has no access to (eg Johnson/Sunak "losing" their WhatsApp history). It's shocking data governance practice. Most big corporations forbid it as a vehicle for corporate communications

It's convenient and convenience tops security for many companies. My concern isn't that it's being shared on WhatsApp it's that it's on personal devices. Have a work chat but for data security it should be restricted to work devices only.

gillywee · 05/10/2023 14:35

You can remove the ability to be added to groups in your WhatsApp settings.
Either for all or certain people.

Godsend!

Surgarblossom · 05/10/2023 14:43

RaeHitsEbSire · 05/10/2023 12:43

Don't understand how folk can be forced to join work WhatsApps, unless it's on a work phone. I don't use WhatsApp at all.

Same here

Verv · 05/10/2023 14:49

Most of my work is conducted through WhatsApp!

If you dont want a chat bouncing to the top archive it, if you dont want notifications, mute it, if you want nowt to do with it ever, archive and mute double whammy as others have said.

Fulshaw · 05/10/2023 15:28

I’m another one who doesn’t understand why either employers or employees allow the use of WhatsApp for work on personal phones. Legal nightmare surely.

RobynRB · 05/10/2023 16:58

Personally I turn my phone off when I go to bed. Problem solved.

gerteddy · 05/10/2023 17:10

We have one and I hardly ever post on it and neither do others.

It's usually on office days folk saying train cancelled etc.

Never been worried about sending them something I shouldn't. It's way down on my chats though as isn't used often.

Original poster
InterFactual · 05/10/2023 18:00

Snickerrs · 05/10/2023 13:22

Set the photo for your husband as a red circle or stop sign or something? change the background to the work chat to be different to your other groups and chats.
Make it easier to go to the correct chat and spot when you are in the wrong one!

Ooh this is a good idea. There's barely any notifications, it's a very quiet chat but it's dangerously close to the buttons for my silly family chats and I just know I'll fat fingers and send stuff to the wrong group one day!

OP posts:
Original poster
InterFactual · 05/10/2023 18:04

CloudPop · 05/10/2023 14:22

I'm amazed companies allow this, let alone encourage it. So potentially important/commercially sensitive information is being shared on an encrypted platform that the company has no access to (eg Johnson/Sunak "losing" their WhatsApp history). It's shocking data governance practice. Most big corporations forbid it as a vehicle for corporate communications

No it's not for work like that. It's for work colleagues to contact each other about shift changes or problems. If someone can't make it in to the office then someone else may need to cover for them, the manager is in the chat and uses it as a way to quickly sort stuff like that out between the group. Nobody uses it to discuss the content of our actual work. For example the other day we had a message on there about a power cut to notify those who are able to WFH.

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 05/10/2023 18:07

I don't work on Thursdays and was talking to my friend in a train on the way to lunch and somehow WhatsApp recorded as a voice note to my work group with 120 people in it. Luckily we were only talking about a book we are both reading could have been worse. I had to email an admin and ask them to delete it. It's easy done,

00100001 · 05/10/2023 18:11

You can quietly leave WhatsApp Groups

00100001 · 05/10/2023 18:14

00100001 · 05/10/2023 18:11

You can quietly leave WhatsApp Groups

And lock chats away....

I'd be locking the work chat away

Original poster
InterFactual · 05/10/2023 20:59

00100001 · 05/10/2023 18:11

You can quietly leave WhatsApp Groups

When people leave the chats it puts a message up for everyone to see

"InterFactual has left the group"

It's like Flouncers Corner, it declares your departure.

OP posts:
00100001 · 05/10/2023 21:34

InterFactual · 05/10/2023 20:59

When people leave the chats it puts a message up for everyone to see

"InterFactual has left the group"

It's like Flouncers Corner, it declares your departure.

Show quote history

No it doesn't if you exit the group.

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