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Original poster

Class WhatsApp group

26 replies

alpacachino · 14/09/2024 21:38

Someone started a class WhatsApp group. Only about 7 people have introduced themselves but there's 20 people in it. I'm a bit weirded out by that. How do I know they are actually parents in the class? Is it possible for an outsider to gain access to the chat?

OP posts:
TellerTuesday · 14/09/2024 21:40

Presumably the person who created the chat knows more parents than you do and added them to it. Then one of those parents knows Jimmy's mum so added her and so on and so forth.

I can't think of a single reason a weirdo would want to join a random class group, unless they're particularly interested in who accidentally took Poppy's cardigan home after PE

Tbskejue · 14/09/2024 21:41

How did it get set up? Ours was set up from a Facebook page for the year group; so in theory anyone who joined that page could join but really what are the chances plus it’s not normally anything particularly personal put out in those groups

mynameiscalypso · 14/09/2024 21:42

For ours, you either need to have been given the invite link or added by an admin. I don't know who some of the people in there are but I assume their parents who have muted the chat or the partners of parents who are active in the group. The overwhelming majority of our group chat is about what day PE is (every week...) or missing jumpers. Even if someone had infiltrated it, they'd be bored senseless.

Original poster
alpacachino · 14/09/2024 21:43

The school sent an email on behalf of the organiser

OP posts:
BoxOffice · 14/09/2024 21:43

Just don’t divulge any personal information on the group, just use it to receive information and don’t write anything if you are concerned

Original poster
alpacachino · 14/09/2024 21:43

mynameiscalypso · 14/09/2024 21:42

For ours, you either need to have been given the invite link or added by an admin. I don't know who some of the people in there are but I assume their parents who have muted the chat or the partners of parents who are active in the group. The overwhelming majority of our group chat is about what day PE is (every week...) or missing jumpers. Even if someone had infiltrated it, they'd be bored senseless.

I mean tbh I already am!

OP posts:
Original poster
alpacachino · 14/09/2024 21:44

BoxOffice · 14/09/2024 21:43

Just don’t divulge any personal information on the group, just use it to receive information and don’t write anything if you are concerned

Ah ok maybe this is what everyone else is doing

OP posts:
Firenzeflower · 14/09/2024 21:45

What kind of mad loon would want to get on a random class WhatsApp group?
It’s bad enough being on your own kids one.

Original poster
alpacachino · 14/09/2024 21:50

Firenzeflower · 14/09/2024 21:45

What kind of mad loon would want to get on a random class WhatsApp group?
It’s bad enough being on your own kids one.

Well exactly you don't know who's joined it? It doesn't say their names

OP posts:
lazzapazza · 14/09/2024 22:04

Mute it and read through it every few days in case you have missed anything important that is happening at school.

WYorkshireRose · 14/09/2024 22:08

Have you never been part of a class WhatsApp group OP? I'd be concerned for anyone who was joining just for kicks...

Original poster
alpacachino · 14/09/2024 22:10

WYorkshireRose · 14/09/2024 22:08

Have you never been part of a class WhatsApp group OP? I'd be concerned for anyone who was joining just for kicks...

No I haven't.

OP posts:
NowImNotDoingIt · 14/09/2024 22:17

It doesn't say their names because you don't have their numbers in your phone.

Vanillalattecandle · 14/09/2024 22:22

I'm all for Internet safety but you're definitely over thinking this.
As mentioned the chats are bad enough when you have a child concerned I doubt there would be a random infiltrating the group chat.

Ours never has anything personal put in so it would be of no use to anyone else, it's school reminders, whens the homework due? Etc.
You'll soon work out who is who anyway.

Twidget · 14/09/2024 22:23

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Previously banned poster.

Original poster
alpacachino · 14/09/2024 22:24

NowImNotDoingIt · 14/09/2024 22:17

It doesn't say their names because you don't have their numbers in your phone.

It does. Some of the people it has their names by. Others are just numbers

OP posts:
BrieOnToast · 14/09/2024 22:37

You sound like you are looking for things to worry about. On the tiny chance that someone has joined a boring WhatsApp group for fun, let them crack on. Maybe pondering where Freya's cardigan has gone again is the highlight of their week.

Tarantella6 · 14/09/2024 22:40

Honestly there was someone in dd2's class whatsapp group last year who was so thick I'm not convincing she was fit to look after children. If someone had infiltrated the group and kidnapped her kids they might have done them a favour.

If the school sent out an email worse case scenario is you've got a parent whose kid is in another class, surely? Not Dave who works in the local Sainsburys?

OolongTeaDrinker · 14/09/2024 22:51

This is not a normal level of healthy paranoia - why would anyone want to infiltrate a class WhatsApp? If you are worried though, just lurk on there and don’t post any info. You will soon see how banal it all is, I don’t think a random stranger is going to care about when homework is due etc..

firstfamhol · 14/09/2024 22:54

alpacachino · 14/09/2024 22:24

It does. Some of the people it has their names by. Others are just numbers

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This will be down to their individual WhatsApp privacy settings. Some people have it set so that their name and or pictures only show to you, if they have you added as a contact. So they probably do have their name and pic on WhatsApp, but you just can’t see it but whoever added them or others they know will see it.

DappledThings · 15/09/2024 06:17

Not everyone wants to introduce themselves. Some people are happy to see info but not contribute. Some people have WhatsApp set up so you can see their name even if you don't have them as a contact and some don't.

There's nothing about this that suggests anything untoward.

Have you introduced yourself in it? If not surely you can see you're just the same as the others who haven't.

Original poster
alpacachino · 15/09/2024 08:31

firstfamhol · 14/09/2024 22:54

This will be down to their individual WhatsApp privacy settings. Some people have it set so that their name and or pictures only show to you, if they have you added as a contact. So they probably do have their name and pic on WhatsApp, but you just can’t see it but whoever added them or others they know will see it.

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Thank you very much for explaining it and not just taking the piss. Most appreciated

OP posts:
Original poster
alpacachino · 15/09/2024 08:32

DappledThings · 15/09/2024 06:17

Not everyone wants to introduce themselves. Some people are happy to see info but not contribute. Some people have WhatsApp set up so you can see their name even if you don't have them as a contact and some don't.

There's nothing about this that suggests anything untoward.

Have you introduced yourself in it? If not surely you can see you're just the same as the others who haven't.

Yes I did introduce myself. I thought that was the done thing. Thanks everyone who's explained the etiquette. The only other group I have on WhatsApp is with my family so its not something I'm familiar with

OP posts:
NC1001001 · 15/09/2024 08:37

It’s not compulsory though is it, confirmed by the lack of interest. I deleted WhatsApp a couple of years ago, I don’t miss it.

Parker231 · 15/09/2024 08:40

alpacachino · 15/09/2024 08:31

Thank you very much for explaining it and not just taking the piss. Most appreciated

Show quote history

Don’t join it. They cause so much trouble. If there is any important information, the school will let you know and not some random parent.